A UNITED KINGDOM NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE SCENARIO ASSESSMENT

摘要

With the advent of a substantial new nuclear build programme in the United Kingdom and the large amounts of plutonium already separated from MAGNOX and AGR spent fuel, it is important to develop fuel cycle scenarios in order to help guide policy making. Using in-house computer codes, the UK National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) has assessed several potential UK fuel cycles with the aim of: ? utilising the UK's plutonium and depleted / reprocessed uranium stockpiles ? minimising the radiotoxic impact on a deep store repository ? maintaining current levels of nuclear power generation ? investigating potential reductions in uranium ore requirements assuming different re-use strategies ? highlighting any future revenue streams from fuel fabrication and reprocessing Using FCM, a new computer program developed by the NNL, the UK nuclear fuel cycle has been realistically modeled from 1950 in order to accurately determine the current situation and to prove the methods used by comparing against current levels of separated plutonium, depleted uranium and irradiated fuel. Six future (hypothetical) scenarios were then developed and the impact on fuel cycle logistics, plant sizing, material flow, radiotoxicity and decay heat determined. The work has focused on Pu and RepU (reprocessed uranium) re-use and the impact on fuel fabrication throughputs and an eventual waste repository. It should be noted that the fuel cycle scenario options and any of the conclusions are those of the author and the NNL and not necessarily those of the policy makers or UK Government.