Fuel cycle cost studies: fabrication, reprocessing, and refabrication of LWR, SSCR, HWR, LMFBR, and HTGR fuels
The comparative analysis of power generation costs for the various reactor cycles that is being performed in the Nonproliferation Alternative Systems Assessment Program (NASAP) and the International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Evaluation (INFCE) requires that the costs associated with processing of fuel materials for use in these cycles be estimated. The study described here provided unit cost estimates for the fabrication, reprocessing, and refabrication of a variety of fuels for several reactor systems. We examined in detail the facility requirements and operations to estimate capital and operating costs. Unit processing cost determinations were based on a cash flow analysis technique in which income from sales over the life of each facility was equated to the total capital and operating expenses of that facility plus a specified return on equity investment. The effects of plant capacities were determined by application of scaling factors to individual components of the reference plant costs. Capital and operating costs were estimated for 21 reactor and fuel cycle combinations. Based on these estimates, unit costs were determined for fabrication, reprocessing, and refabrication of the fuels. In each instance, the effect of plant capacities on unit costs associated with the processing of fuels was determined. All costs were based on mature industries, and first-of-a-kind costs were not included. Unit cost determinations were based on three financing techniques, which included government financing, typical industrial financing, and high-risk industrial financing. The unit costs recommended for the comparative analysis of power generation costs are those associaated with the economic assumptions of a typical industry.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- OSTI ID:
- 6420741
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/TM-6522
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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051000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210802 -- Nuclear Power Plants-- Economics-- Fuel Cycle
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
BREEDER REACTORS
CAPITAL
CARBIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CONFIGURATION CONTROL
COST
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FABRICATION
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FUEL CYCLE
GAS COOLED REACTORS
GRAPHITE MODERATED REACTORS
HEAVY WATER MODERATED REACTORS
HTGR TYPE REACTORS
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
OPERATING COST
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM CARBIDES
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM DIOXIDE
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
REACTORS
REPROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPECTRAL SHIFT CONTROL
THORIUM CARBIDES
THORIUM COMPOUNDS
THORIUM OXIDES
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM CARBIDES
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM DIOXIDE
URANIUM OXIDES
WATER COOLED REACTORS