Modular helium reactor technology: making nuclear waste transmutation practical

摘要

To meet world power demands, the use of nuclear power must continue to grow as a safe, emission-free, reliable, and economical source of energy. However, at the rate waste is produced by the existing fleet of nuclear reactors in the US, new repository capacity equal to the statutory capacity of the yet-to-open Yucca Mountain would be needed about every 20 years. Therefore, the ability to expand, or even maintain the nuclear power capacity in the US will be limited, unless either additional disposal capacity is identified, or waste volume, proliferation risk, and toxicity dose are significantly reduced. A preferred option for the destruction (transmutation) of waste from reactors is based on the use of thermal modular helium reactor systems (MHRs). This paper gives a brief outline of the MHR-based transmutation concept and its attendant advantages.