Nuclear fuel resources

N3. Nininger, R. D., and S. H. U. Bowie Technological Status of Nuclear Fuel Resources, Paper given at 1976 Winter Meeting of American Nuclear Society, Washington, D.C., Nov. 1976. 

Tborium is tbe nuclear fuel resource available in India in plentiful quantities to sustain a large power programme. At present, tbe design and development of Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) and Compact High Temperature Reactor (CHTR) are underway for utilization of tborium. Incorporation of simplified and passive systems is one of tbe features of these reactors. Tbe R D work related to these reactors is being carried out in BARC. 

The SFTi is an attractive energy source for nations that desire to make the best use of limited nuclear fuel resources and manage nuclear waste by closing the fuel cycle. 

Bleeding of nuclear fuel was recognized as having a potentially important impact on the avadabihty of energy resources as soon as plutonium was... 

The use of nuclear power has been a topic of debate for many years. Nuclear fuel represents a resource for generating energy weU into the future, whereas economically recoverable fossil fuel reserves may become depleted. Worker exposure, injuries, and fataHties in nuclear fuel mining are reportedly far less compared to those associated with recovery and handling of fossil fuels. Potential hazards associated with transporting and storing radioactive wastes do exist, however. 

For example, the measure of change fix>m coal to natural gas or nuclear fuel is classified itrto regrettable one from the viewpoints of resources, because the amount of natural gas or uranium resources is much less than that of coal. 

If H2 is made from renewable fuels such as biomass, or nuclear energy, or fossil fuel resources with C02 capture and sequestration, it would be possible to generate emission-free electricity in the future. 

Nuclear fuel cycle, 77 545-547 safety principles and, 17 546-547 Nuclear fuel reprocessing, 10 789-790 Nuclear fuel reserves, 17 518-530 alternative sources of, 17 527 economic aspects of, 17 526-527 toxicology of uranium, 17 528-529 uranium mineral resources, 17 518-521, 522-525... 

In the light of the projected growth of demand for energy services, particularly electricity, there is a renewed interest in the extension of nuclear power in some countries. With uranium being a finite resource as well, Chapter 4 focuses primarily on the question of a future expansion of nuclear power in the context of the availability of nuclear fuels. Moreover, the evolution of the next generation of nuclear reactors, such as breeder reactors or reactors suitable for hydrogen production, is addressed. 

The development of thorium-based nuclear power cycles still faces various problems and requires much more R D to be commercialised. As a nuclear fuel, thorium could play a more important role in the coming decades, partly as it is more abundant on Earth than uranium and also because mined thorium has the potential to be used completely in nuclear reactors, compared with the 0.7% of natural uranium. Its future use as a nuclear source of energy will, however, depend greatly on the technological developments currently investigated in various parts of the world and the availability of and access to conventional uranium resources. 

The present world energy supply system is facing three basic problems (1) limitation of fossil fuel resources, (2) climate change by carbon dioxide emission, and (3) insecurity by nuclear weapon competence and radioactive materials. The strategic goal therefore should be to transition to unlimited resources, use zero-emission fuels and accept no options for abuse. 

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