BWR fuel recovery economics

Technical Report · Mon Aug 09 04:00:00 EDT 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7341663· OSTI ID:7341663

Ledford, S G; Gift, E H

The purpose of the study is to gain insight into the incentives for recovery of the fissile values in spent LWR fuel. The plutonium ''indifference value,'' associated ''breakeven'' reprocessing cost, and overall fuel cycle costs have been estimated as functions of the price of U/sub 3/O/sub 8/, the price of uranium enrichment, and of the cost of fabricating mixed oxide fuel assemblies relative to UO/sub 2/ fabrication. The effects of spent fuel storage costs on fuel cycle and breakeven reprocessing costs have also been calculated. The plutonium indifference value represents the value at which a reactor operator is indifferent either to recovery and reuse of plutonium (and uranium) or to recovery and sale of plutonium and uranium. The breakeven reprocessing costs represent the price that a reactor operator could afford to pay for reprocessing and waste management (combined), such that his total fuel cycle cost is the same with or without recovery.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Tenn. (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 7341663
• Report Number(s): K-OP-207
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050800 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210100* -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Boiling Water Cooled
ACTINIDES
BWR TYPE REACTORS
ECONOMICS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FUEL CYCLE
FUELS
METALS
NUCLEAR FUELS
PLUTONIUM
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS
REPROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPENT FUELS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS