Actinide recycle potential in the IFR (Integral Fast Reactor)
Rising concern about the greenhouse effect reinforces the need to reexamine the question of a next-generation reactor concept that can contribute significantly toward substitution for fossil-based energy generation. Even with only the nuclear capacity on-line today, world-wide reasonably assured uranium resources would last for only about 50 years. If nuclear is to make a significant contribution, breeding is a fundamental requirement. Uranium resources can then be extended by two orders of magnitude, making nuclear essentially a renewable energy source. The key technical elements of the IFR concept are metallic fuel and fuel cycle technology based on pyroprocessing. Pyroprocessing is radically different from the conventional PUREX reprocessing developed for the LWR oxide fuel. Chemical feasibility of pyroprocessing has been demonstrated. The next major step in the IFR development program will be the full-scale pyroprocessing demonstration to be carried out in conjunction with EBR-II. IFR fuel cycle closure based on pyroprocessing can also have a dramatic impact on the waste management options, and in particular on the actinide recycling. 6 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 6418370
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-890218-3; ON: DE89008048
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 16. annual WATTec conference and exhibition, Knoxville, TN, USA, 14 Feb 1989; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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IFR REACTOR
PYROCHEMICAL REPROCESSING
ACTINIDES
BREEDING
EBR-1 REACTOR
EBR-2 REACTOR
FISSION PRODUCTS
NUCLEAR ENERGY
NUCLEAR FUELS
REACTOR SAFETY
RECYCLING
WASTE PROCESSING
BREEDER REACTORS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
EXPERIMENTAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FUELS
ISOTOPES
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
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MATERIALS
METALS
NAK COOLED REACTORS
NUCLEAR FUEL CONVERSION
PLUTONIUM REACTORS
POTASSIUM COOLED REACTORS
POWER REACTORS
PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS
REPROCESSING
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
RESEARCH REACTORS
SAFETY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SODIUM COOLED REACTORS
TEST REACTORS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
ZERO POWER REACTORS
210500* - Power Reactors
Breeding