Comparison of the Radiological Impacts of Thorium and Uranium Nuclear Fuel Cycles.

摘要

A study is being performed for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to determine whether the existing regulations for the uranium fuel cycles require modification and/or additions in order to regulate thorium fuel cycles. This report was prepared during Phase 2 of the study and compares the radiological impacts of a fuel cycle in which only uranium is recycled, as presented in the Final Generic Environmental Statement on the 'Use of Recycle Plutonium in Mixed Oxide Fuel in Light Water Cooled Reactors (GESMO)', with those of the light-water breeder reactor (LWBR) thorium/uranium fuel cycle in the 'Final Environmental Statement, Light Water Breeder Reactor Program'. The significant offsite radiological impacts from routine operation of the fuel cycles result from the mining and milling of thorium and uranium ores, reprocessing spent fuel, and reactor operations. The major difference between the impacts from the two fuel cycles is the larger dose commitments associated with current uranium mining and milling operations as compared to thorium mining and milling.