Alternative fuel cycle evaluation in the Federal Republic of Germany

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Nucl. Technol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6033642

Papp, R; Closs, K D

In compliance with a 1979 governmental decision, Karlsruhe Nuclear Research Center managed the research and development (R and D) program ''Alternative Entsorgung,'' which had two major goals: (a) development of technical concepts for direct disposal of spent fuel and (b) comparison of the traditional back end of the nuclear fuel cycle based on fuel reprocessing with direct disposal. With respect to radiological safety, this comparison revealed that direct disposal scores better than the reprocessing path, but the difference is judged minor when compared to doses from natural radiation background. From the standpoint of cost, direct disposal proves more economical by a margin of 30% even though the reference system of direct disposal was not cost optimized. Finally, some unresolved but not unresolvable issues exist with regard to safeguarding a repository for spent fuel. In its decision in January 1985, the government of the Federal Republic of Germany stated that the results of the R and D program indicated that the legal requirement to ensure Entsorgung were better fulfilled by fuel reprocessing than by direct disposal of spent fuel.

• Research Organization: Karlsruhe Nuclear Res. Center, Project Group Alternative Entsorgung, Karlsruhe
• OSTI ID: 6033642
• Journal Information: Nucl. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 72:3; ISSN NUTYB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
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DOSES
ENERGY SOURCES
EUROPE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
FUEL CYCLE
FUELS
LEGAL ASPECTS
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NUCLEAR FUELS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
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SPENT FUEL STORAGE
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WESTERN EUROPE