Nuclear fuel fabrication and refabrication cost estimation methodology
The costs for construction and operation of nuclear fuel fabrication facilities for several reactor types and fuels were estimated, and the unit costs (prices) of the fuels were determined from these estimates. The techniques used in estimating the costs of building and operating these nuclear fuel fabrication facilities are described in this report. Basically, the estimation techniques involve detailed comparisons of alternative and reference fuel fabrication plants. Increases or decreases in requirements for fabricating the alternative fuels are identified and assessed for their impact on the capital and operating costs. The impact on costs due to facility size or capacity was also assessed, and scaling factors for the various captial and operating cost categories are presented. The method and rationale by which these scaling factors were obtained are also discussed. By use of the techniques described herein, consistent cost information for a wide variety of fuel types can be obtained in a relatively short period of time. In this study, estimates for 52 fuel fabrication plants were obtained in approximately two months. These cost estimates were extensively reviewed by experts in the fabrication of the various fuels, and, in the opinion of the reviewers, the estimates were very consistent and sufficiently accurate for use in overall cycle assessments.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- OSTI ID:
- 5819027
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/TM-6640; TRN: 80-002361
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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FUEL FABRICATION PLANTS
COST
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ECONOMICS
FORECASTING
OPERATION
SPECTRAL SHIFT CONTROL
BREEDER REACTORS
CONFIGURATION CONTROL
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
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NUCLEAR FACILITIES
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050700* - Nuclear Fuels- Fuels Production & Properties
051000 - Nuclear Fuels- Economic
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