Comparison of the radiological impacts of thorium and uranium nuclear fuel cycles

Technical Report · Mon Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5536703· OSTI ID:5536703

Meyer, H. R.; Witherspoon, J. P.; McBride, J. P.; Frederick, E. J.

This report compares the radiological impacts of a fuel cycle in which only uranium is recycled, as presented in the Final Generic Environmental Statement on the Use of Recycle Plutonium in Mixed Oxide Fuel in Light Water Cooled Reactors (GESMO), with those of the light-water breeder reactor (LWBR) thorium/uranium fuel cycle in the Final Environmental Statement, Light Water Breeder Reactor Program. The significant offsite radiological impacts from routine operation of the fuel cycles result from the mining and milling of thorium and uranium ores, reprocessing spent fuel, and reactor operations. The major difference between the impacts from the two fuel cycles is the larger dose commitments associated with current uranium mining and milling operations as compared to thorium mining and milling. Estimated dose commitments from the reprocessing of either fuel type are small and show only moderate variations for specific doses. No significant differences in environmental radiological impact are anticipated for reactors using either of the fuel cycles. Radiological impacts associated with routine releases from the operation of either the thorium or uranium fuel cycles can be held to acceptably low levels by existing regulations.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5536703
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-2184; ORNL/TM-7868; ON: DE82011722; TRN: 82-008571
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
FUEL CYCLE
DOSE COMMITMENTS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
FEED MATERIALS PLANTS
LWBR TYPE REACTORS
MINING
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
REACTOR OPERATION
REPROCESSING
THORIUM
URANIUM
WATER COOLED REACTORS
ACTINIDES
BREEDER REACTORS
ELEMENTS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
MATERIALS
METALS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
OPERATION
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
REACTORS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
THERMAL REACTORS
WASTES
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
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