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Title: Options for treating high-temperature gas-cooled reactor fuel for repository disposal

Abstract

This report describes the options that can reasonably be considered for disposal of high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) fuel in a repository. The options include whole-block disposal, disposal with removal of graphite (either mechanically or by burning), and reprocessing of spent fuel to separate the fuel and fission products. The report summarizes what is known about the options without extensively projecting or analyzing actual performance of waste forms in a repository. The report also summarizes the processes involved in convert spent HTGR fuel into the various waste forms and projects relative schedules and costs for deployment of the various options. Fort St. Vrain Reactor fuel, which utilizes highly-enriched {sup 235}U (plus thorium) and is contained in a prismatic graphite block geometry, was used as the baseline for evaluation, but the major conclusions would not be significantly different for low- or medium-enriched {sup 235}U (without thorium) or for the German pebble-bed fuel. Future US HTGRs will be based on the Fort St. Vrain (FSV) fuel form. The whole block appears to be a satisfactory waste form for disposal in a repository and may perform better than light-water reactor (LWR) spent fuel. From the standpoint of process cost and schedule (not considering repositorymore » cost or value of fuel that might be recycled), the options are ranked as follows in order of increased cost and longer schedule to perform the option: (1) whole block, (2a) physical separation, (2b) chemical separation, and (3) complete chemical processing.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
5350512
Report Number(s):
ORNL/TM-12077
ON: DE92014909
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; 12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; 11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES; RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL; HTGR TYPE REACTORS; CARBON 14; COST ESTIMATION; FISSION PRODUCT RELEASE; FUEL ELEMENTS; GRAPHITE; NUCLEAR FUELS; QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS; RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING; REACTION KINETICS; REGULATIONS; RISK ASSESSMENT; SEPARATION PROCESSES; TRUEX PROCESS; UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL; VITRIFICATION; VRAIN REACTOR; BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; CARBON; CARBON ISOTOPES; CHEMICAL ANALYSIS; ELEMENTAL MINERALS; ELEMENTS; ENERGY SOURCES; ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS; EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI; FUELS; GAS COOLED REACTORS; GRAPHITE MODERATED REACTORS; HELIUM COOLED REACTORS; ISOTOPES; KINETICS; LIGHT NUCLEI; MANAGEMENT; MATERIALS; MINERALS; NONMETALS; NUCLEI; POWER REACTORS; PROCESSING; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS; RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; RADIOISOTOPES; REACTOR COMPONENTS; REACTOR MATERIALS; REACTORS; WASTE DISPOSAL; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTE PROCESSING; WASTES; YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES; 210300* - Power Reactors, Nonbreeding, Graphite Moderated; 052002 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage; 052001 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Processing; 054000 - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety

Citation Formats

Lotts, A.L., Bond, W.D., Forsberg, C.W., Glass, R.W., Harrington, F.E., Micheals, G.E., Notz, K.J., and Wymer, R.G.. Options for treating high-temperature gas-cooled reactor fuel for repository disposal. United States: N. p., 1992. Web. doi:10.2172/5350512.
Lotts, A.L., Bond, W.D., Forsberg, C.W., Glass, R.W., Harrington, F.E., Micheals, G.E., Notz, K.J., & Wymer, R.G.. Options for treating high-temperature gas-cooled reactor fuel for repository disposal. United States. doi:10.2172/5350512.
Lotts, A.L., Bond, W.D., Forsberg, C.W., Glass, R.W., Harrington, F.E., Micheals, G.E., Notz, K.J., and Wymer, R.G.. Sat . "Options for treating high-temperature gas-cooled reactor fuel for repository disposal". United States. doi:10.2172/5350512. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5350512.
@article{osti_5350512,
title = {Options for treating high-temperature gas-cooled reactor fuel for repository disposal},
author = {Lotts, A.L. and Bond, W.D. and Forsberg, C.W. and Glass, R.W. and Harrington, F.E. and Micheals, G.E. and Notz, K.J. and Wymer, R.G.},
abstractNote = {This report describes the options that can reasonably be considered for disposal of high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) fuel in a repository. The options include whole-block disposal, disposal with removal of graphite (either mechanically or by burning), and reprocessing of spent fuel to separate the fuel and fission products. The report summarizes what is known about the options without extensively projecting or analyzing actual performance of waste forms in a repository. The report also summarizes the processes involved in convert spent HTGR fuel into the various waste forms and projects relative schedules and costs for deployment of the various options. Fort St. Vrain Reactor fuel, which utilizes highly-enriched {sup 235}U (plus thorium) and is contained in a prismatic graphite block geometry, was used as the baseline for evaluation, but the major conclusions would not be significantly different for low- or medium-enriched {sup 235}U (without thorium) or for the German pebble-bed fuel. Future US HTGRs will be based on the Fort St. Vrain (FSV) fuel form. The whole block appears to be a satisfactory waste form for disposal in a repository and may perform better than light-water reactor (LWR) spent fuel. From the standpoint of process cost and schedule (not considering repository cost or value of fuel that might be recycled), the options are ranked as follows in order of increased cost and longer schedule to perform the option: (1) whole block, (2a) physical separation, (2b) chemical separation, and (3) complete chemical processing.},
doi = {10.2172/5350512},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1992},
month = {Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1992}
}

Technical Report:

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  • This report describes the options that can reasonably be considered for disposal of high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) fuel in a repository. The options include whole-block disposal, disposal with removal of graphite (either mechanically or by burning), and reprocessing of spent fuel to separate the fuel and fission products. The report summarizes what is known about the options without extensively projecting or analyzing actual performance of waste forms in a repository. The report also summarizes the processes involved in convert spent HTGR fuel into the various waste forms and projects relative schedules and costs for deployment of the various options. Fortmore » St. Vrain Reactor fuel, which utilizes highly-enriched {sup 235}U (plus thorium) and is contained in a prismatic graphite block geometry, was used as the baseline for evaluation, but the major conclusions would not be significantly different for low- or medium-enriched {sup 235}U (without thorium) or for the German pebble-bed fuel. Future US HTGRs will be based on the Fort St. Vrain (FSV) fuel form. The whole block appears to be a satisfactory waste form for disposal in a repository and may perform better than light-water reactor (LWR) spent fuel. From the standpoint of process cost and schedule (not considering repository cost or value of fuel that might be recycled), the options are ranked as follows in order of increased cost and longer schedule to perform the option: (1) whole block, (2a) physical separation, (2b) chemical separation, and (3) complete chemical processing.« less
  • Preliminary scoping calculations are being performed for a 100 MWt gas-cooled test reactor. The initial design uses standard prismatic blocks and 15.5% enriched UCO fuel. Reactor physics and thermal-hydraulics simulations have been performed to identify some reactor design features to investigate further. Current status of the effort is described.
  • This is a follow-up to an earlier report documenting the MORECA code, an interactive simulation tool for performing independent analyses of postulated modular high-temperature gascooled reactor (MHTGR) core transients and heatup accidents. This research was performed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to assist the Nuclear Regulator Commission in preliminary determinations of licensability of the US Department of Energy reference design of a standard MHTGR. The additional features of MORECA documented in this report are the interactive workstation capabilities and the options for studying anticipated transients without scram events.
  • This is a follow-up to an earlier report documenting the MORECA code, an interactive simulation tool for performing independent analyses of postulated modular high-temperature gascooled reactor (MHTGR) core transients and heatup accidents. This research was performed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to assist the Nuclear Regulator Commission in preliminary determinations of licensability of the US Department of Energy reference design of a standard MHTGR. The additional features of MORECA documented in this report are the interactive workstation capabilities and the options for studying anticipated transients without scram events.
  • IVery High Temperature Reactors (VHTR) utilize the TRISO microsphere as the fundamental fuel unit in the core. The TRISO microsphere (~ 1- mm diameter) is composed of a UO2 kernel surrounded by a porous pyrolytic graphite buffer, an inner pyrolytic graphite layer, a silicon carbide (SiC) coating, and an outer pyrolytic graphite layer. The U-235 enrichment of the fuel is expected to range from 4% – 10% (higher enrichments are also being considered). The layer/coating system that surrounds the UO2 kernel acts as the containment and main barrier against the environmental release of radioactivity. To understand better the behavior ofmore » this fuel under in-core conditions (e.g., high temperature, intense fast neutron flux, etc.), the US Department of Energy (DOE) is launching a fuel testing program that will take place at the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) located at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). During this project North Carolina State University (NCSU) researchers will collaborate with INL staff for establishing an optimized system for fuel monitoring for the ATR tests. In addition, it is expected that the developed system and methods will be of general use for fuel failure monitoring in gas cooled VHTRs.« less