Recycled Nuclear Waste will Power a New Reactor

摘要

Idaho National Laboratory sprawls across nearly 900 square miles in the southeastern corner of its namesake state. Home to America's first nuclear power plant, INL has served as the proving grounds for the future of nuclear energy technology for decades. Along the way, the lab has generated hundreds of tons of uranium waste that is no longer efficient at producing electricity. The spent fuel resides in temporary storage facilities while politicians duke it out over where to bury it. Most of this spent fuel will probably end up underground, although where and when are open questions. As it turns out, a lot of people aren't thrilled by the idea of having nuclear waste buried in their backyards. But at least some of the spent fuel may have a second chance at life feeding advanced nuclear reactors that will be smaller and safer than their predecessors.