Lessons Learned From Dynamic Simulations of Advanced Fuel Cycles

Conference · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 2009

OSTI ID:952016

Piet, Steven J; Dixon, Brent W; Jacobson, Jacob J; Matthern, Gretchen E; Shropshire, David E

Years of performing dynamic simulations of advanced nuclear fuel cycle options provide insights into how they could work and how one might transition from the current once-through fuel cycle. This paper summarizes those insights from the context of the 2005 objectives and goals of the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI). Our intent is not to compare options, assess options versus those objectives and goals, nor recommend changes to those objectives and goals. Rather, we organize what we have learned from dynamic simulations in the context of the AFCI objectives for waste management, proliferation resistance, uranium utilization, and economics. Thus, we do not merely describe “lessons learned” from dynamic simulations but attempt to answer the “so what” question by using this context. The analyses have been performed using the Verifiable Fuel Cycle Simulation of Nuclear Fuel Cycle Dynamics (VISION). We observe that the 2005 objectives and goals do not address many of the inherently dynamic discriminators among advanced fuel cycle options and transitions thereof.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE - NE
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-99ID13727
• OSTI ID: 952016
• Report Number(s): INL/CON-08-15052
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
DISCRIMINATORS
ECONOMICS
FUEL CYCLE
MANAGEMENT
NUCLEAR FUELS
Nuclear fuel cycle
PROLIFERATION
SIMULATION
URANIUM
VISION
WASTE MANAGEMENT
recycling
spent nuclear fuel
waste management