Processing of Spent TRISO-Coated Reactor Fuels: Mechanical Head-End for Grind-Leach Process

摘要

Generation IV (Gen IV) high-temperaturerngas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) and fuels are beingrndeveloped to produce electrical power usingrnhighly efficient gas turbines; provide energyrnto high-temperature chemical processes, such asrnthe production of hydrogen; and burnrntransuranium actinides to reduce their impacts onrnthe geological repository. In the variousrnapplications for reactors using these fuels, therernare incentives to close the fuel cycle and recyclernthe fuel components. In the case of uraniumrncycles, the fuel is typically enriched to Urnfractions higher than those in light-water reactorsrnand the spent fuel contains a uranium enrichmentrnof up to % or more and thus retains a significantrneconomic value. Additionally, the spent fuel hasrnsignificant concentrations of long-term heatrngenerators. Disposal of material with significantrnenrichments and heat loads is problematic.rnRecycling of the spent fuel limits the costsrnassociated with the geological disposal of thernspent fuel. Plutonium-burning reactors achievernhigher overall destruction of plutonium when thernunused portion is recycled for further burning.rnAny fuel containing fertile materials wouldrnproduce fuel materials that—when recycled—rnextend the natural resources.