Proliferation-resistant fuel cycles

Pu. The Pu has seen appHcation as a long-Hved isotopic heat source. Plutonium-238 is most usehil in space programs, but is also of interest as part of a proliferation-resistant fuel cycle (2). 

While the goal of bringing plutonium production and consumption into balance is a long term one, research and development on proliferation-resistant fuel cycles should be taking place at present. International cooperation ofthe appropriate countries in this R D is also essential. Failure to pursue a suitable R D effort and international cooperation is virtually certain to result in the adoption ofthe most proliferation-prone fuel cycle when the plutonium breeder is deployed in the next century. 

If nonproliferation considerations have not led to official opposition to nuclear power, their effect on fuel cycle policy has been profound. Although, its rhetoric and many of its implementating actions have been more restrained, the Clinton Administration has, in principle, adopted the Carter policy of opposition to reprocessing and plutonium recycle, hr at least one important area, however, it has inexplicably out-Cartered earlier policy by terminating work on proliferation-resistant firel cycles that involve recycle of still highly radioactive plutonium. 

Proliferation. Nuclear-fuel-cycle operations leave open the possibility of improper access to fissile material through theft or diversion. Proliferation can be addressed through near-term measures designed to improve the proliferation-resistance of current nuclear reactor operations and through long-term research to explore proliferation-resistant designs (PC AST, 1999). 

Besides being proliferation resistant, the other advantages of fuel cycles using AIR0X reprocessing are (1) extension of uranium reserve by recycling the fissile material in spent fuel,... 

Potential diversion of nuclear material from power production to weapons production by national or subnational groups has resulted in a reevaluation of the proliferation resistance of various fuel cycles. The low-contamination fuel cycle, utilizing AIROX dry processing, is proliferation resistant due to the retention of fission products with the fuel and to the low concentration of fissile material in all process steps. In the AIROX process, UO2 is oxidized with air to U3O8 to expand the fuel volume which simultaneously declads and pulverizes the fuel the fuel is subsequently reenriched, repelletized, and recycled to the reactor. 

ROUSSANOV, A., et. al.. Corrosion resistance of structure materials in lead coolant with reference to reactor installation paper presented at the International Seminar on Cost, Competitive, Proliferation Resistant Inherently and Ecologically Safe Fast Reactor and Fuel Cycle for Large Scale Power , MINATOM, Moscow, 29 May-1 June, (2000),pp. 65-67. 

There are LWR and LMR advanced fuel-cycle schemes being investigated with potential to improve the proliferation resistance of current reactors. However, they usually require extensive fuel shuffling or fuel modifications to make the fuel less suitable for weapons application. These approaches may be found suitable for large reactors, but they do not appear compatible with small reactors that have a requirement for no on-site refueling. 

All these features of nuclear power plants make it very attractive for developing countries to introduce nuclear power and for industrialized countries to expand nuclear power usage. In addition, the need to improve the fuel cycle, waste management and nuclear proliferation resistance, requires special design characteristics and fuel management provisions. 

Technologies for proliferation resistant reactors and fuel cycles ... 

Proliferation resistance will be an important goal for future changes to the nuclear fuel cycle. Issues related to proliferation resistance are better understood... 

In fast reactors, the uranium-plutonium fuel of equilibrium composition is unfit for production of nuclear weapons. Its breeding properties are worse than those of uranium 20% enriched in (the IAEA limit). Absence of plutonium and uranium separation in all stages of the fuel cycle guarantees proliferation resistance. 

The GFR system is top ranked in sustainability because of its closed fuel cycle and excellent performance in actinide management. It is rated good in safety, economics, and in proliferation resistance and physical protection. It is primarily envisioned for missions in electricity... 

Because of significant design differences from current commercial reactors, a comprehensive plan will need to be developed to define a safety case and licensing process equivalent to current commercial reactors. In addition, significant work will be required to define the requirement for the MSR fuel cycle, including proliferation resistance and physical protection issues. 

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