乏燃料后处理湿法工艺技术基础研究发展现状

为了保持核能可持续发展,必须相应发展乏燃料后处理技术,以实施快堆闭合核燃料循环。湿法后处理工艺仍以PUREX流程为基础,从乏燃料元件首端处理工艺、萃取工艺的简化和无盐调价等方面开展相应的研究。同时随着动力堆乏燃料元件燃耗的增加,Np、Pu以及高产额裂变产物元素Ru、Tc、Zr等在水法后处理工艺中的行为及形态等影响日趋凸显。本文针对上述问题进行了论述,并提出了相应的研究重点。     

The reactor physics characteristics of a transuranic mixed oxide fuel in a heavy water moderated reactor

The reprocessing actinide materials extracted from spent fuel for use in mixed oxide fuels is a key component in maximizing the spent fuel repository utility. While fast spectrum reactor technologies are being considered in order to close the fuel cycle, and transmute these actinides, there is potential to utilize existing pressurized heavy water reactors such as the CANDU^®1 design to meet these goals. The use of current thermal reactors as an intermediary step which can burn actinide based fuels can significantly reduce the fast reactor infrastructure needed. This paper examines the features of actinide mixed oxide fuel, TRUMOX, in a typical CANDU nuclear reactor. The actinide concentrations used were based on extraction from 30 year cooled spent fuel and mixed with natural uranium in 4.75% actinide MOX fuel. The WIMS-AECL model of the fuel lattice was created and the two neutron group properties were transferred to RFSP in order to create a 3 dimensional time average full core model. The model was created with typical CANDU limits on bundle and channel powers and a burnup target of 45 MWd/kgHE. The TRUMOX fuel design achieved its goals and performed well under normal operations simulations. This effort demonstrated the feasibility of using the current fleet of CANDU reactors as an intermediary step in burning reprocessed spent fuel and reducing actinide burdens within the end repository. The recycling, reprocessing and reuse of spent fuels produces a much more sustainable and efficient nuclear fuel cycle using existing and proven reactor technologies.     

Utilization of spent PWR fuel-advanced nuclear fuel cycle of PWR／CANDU synergism

High neutron economy, on line refueling and channel design result in the unsurpassed fuel cycle flexi-bility and variety for CANDU reactors. According to the Chinese national conditions that China has both PWR and CANDU reactors and the closed cycle policy of reprocessing the spent PWR fuel is adopted, one of the advanced nu-clear fuel cycles of PWR/CANDU synergism using the reprocessed uranium of spent PWR fuel in CANDU reactor is proposed, which will save the uranium resource (-22.5%), increase the energy output (-41%), decrease the quantity of spent fuels to be disposed (-2/3) and lower the cost of nuclear poower, Because of the inherent flexibility of nuclearfuel cycle in CANDU reactor, and the low radiation level of recycled uranium(RU), which is acceptable for CANDU reactor fuel fabrication, the transition from the natural uranium to the RU can be completed without major modifica-tion of the reactor core structure and operation mode.It can be implemented in Qinshan Phase Ⅲ CANDU reactors with little or no requirement of big investment in new design. It can be expected that the reuse of recycled uranium of spent PWR fuel in CANDU reactor is a feasible and desirable strategy in China.     

压水堆核燃料循环情景模式初步研究

根据我国核电发展现状和中长期发展规划及中长期（2030、2050）发展战略研究,假设2050年前我国压水堆核电发展规模,基于压水堆乏燃料后处理,回收的钚做成MOX燃料放入压水堆中使用,MOX燃料只使用1次的循环模式,进行核能发展情景研究。基于压水堆可装载30%比例MOX燃料的已有研究结果,考虑我国主要的两种压水堆堆型M310和AP1000,进行压水堆核燃料循环分析。利用核能发展情景动态分析程序DESAE-2,给出了不同情景模式下天然铀需求量、乏燃料累计量等。结果表明：至2050年,B₁和B₂模式较A模式分别节省天然铀4.1万t和2.9万t。     

Proliferation-resistant fuel options for thermal and fast reactors avoiding neptunium production

Sustainable nuclear energy production requires reuse of spent nuclear fuel while avoiding its misuse. In the paper we assume that plutonium with sufficiently high content of the Pu-238 isotope (about 6% or more) and americium from spent nuclear fuel are proliferation-resistant. On the other hand, neptunium should be considered as material that is fissionable in a fast neutron spectrum and could be misused.We also assume that plutonium denatured by Pu-238 can be produced in nuclear reactors of, e.g. nuclear weapon states and used for fuel fabrication there or in multilateral reprocessing and re-fabrication centers as suggested by IAEA. Then the fabricated fuel can be utilized in nuclear reactors everywhere provided that the reactors may operate safely and the fuel remains proliferation-resistant after utilization. Options to meet these criteria are investigated in the paper for two reactor types: pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and fast reactors (FRs).In PWRs, the investigated fresh fuel compositions include denatured plutonium and depleted uranium mixed with a small amount of U-233, thorium and, optionally, with americium, presence of U-233 making the coolant void effect negative. In FRs, use of americium makes plutonium denatured, both for the burner (without fertile blanket) and breeder options. It is shown that the proposed design and fuel options are proliferation-resistant, the generation of neptunium being very low. Safety parameters are acceptable. Advanced aqueous or pyrochemical reprocessing for plutonium/thorium/uranium fuel and related fuel re-fabrication technology applying remote handling may become necessary to realize the considered fuel cycles.     

轻水堆发展规划的核燃料循环模型及优化

一、前言提高核燃料循环的经济性是增进核动力经济性极为重要的一环。国外有人提出利用动态线性规划方法,依据燃料循环中各环节内在的物理和化工过程,建立起一系列线性方     

Current and Future Problems of the Fuel Supply for Nuclear Power

The structure of the nuclear fuel cycle, consisting of the technological stages of uranium production, refining, enrichment, fabrication of nuclear fuel, and reprocessing of the spent fuel for reuse of the fissioning materials, is examined. Supplying fuel includes supplying fuel for Russian nuclear power plants, propulsion and research reactors, export of fuel for nuclear power plants and research reactors constructed according to Russian designs, export of low-enriched uranium and fuel for nuclear power plants constructed according to foreign designs. The explored deposits of natural uranium, the estimated stores of uranium in reserve deposits, and warehoused stores will provide nuclear power with uranium up to 2030 and in more distant future with the planned rates of development. The transition of nuclear power plants to a new fuel run will save up to 20% of the natural uranium. The volume of reprocessing of spent fuel and reuse of ²³⁵U makes it possible to satisfy up to 30% of the demand for resources required for Russian nuclear power plants. The most efficient measure of the resource safety of Russian nuclear power is implementation of an interconnected strategy at each stage of the nuclear fuel cycle.     

混合能源堆裂变包层核燃料成本分析

混合能源堆裂变包层燃料管理策略是:对乏燃料做后处理,得到的回收燃料作为下一循环的燃料,据此开展裂变包层的燃耗性能分析。在此基础上建立了针对混合能源堆的燃料循环成本分析模型:建立核燃料循环图,进行物料衡算,并分析燃料管理方案的单位发电量的燃料消耗量,根据市场价格,得到最终的核燃料成本。根据燃料循环成本分析结果,对影响较大的因素,如天然铀采购单价、乏燃料后处理单价、燃料制造单价等参数进行敏感性分析,得到燃料成本根据各价格参数变化规律。     

Accident Risk Assessment of Transport of Spent Fuel by Rail in India

Abstract

The results are presented of a study carried out to estimate the accident risk involved in the transport of spent fuel from a typical Indian nuclear power plant site near Kota to a typical fuel reprocessing plant site at Tarapur. The fuel considered is the low burnup Indian pressurised heavy water reactor fuel with a minimum cooling period of 485 days. The spent fuel is transported in a cuboidal, naturally cooled shipping cask over a distance of 822 km by rail. The accident risk analysis is carried out using the fault tree methodology. RADTRAN 4 computer code is used for estimating the consequences and the accident risk. Results of the analysis indicate that the accident risk values are acceptably low and do not constitute significant additional risk to the population along the route.     

Multiobjective fuel management optimization for self-fuel-providing LMFBR using genetic algorithms

One of the conceptual options under consideration for the future of nuclear power is the long-term development without fuel reprocessing. This concept is based on a reactor that requires no plutonium reprocessing for itself, and provides high efficiency of natural uranium utilization, so called Self-Fuel-Providing LMFBR (SFPR). Several design considerations were previously given to this reactor type which, however, suffer from some problems connected with insufficient power flattening, large reactivity swings during burnup cycles, and peak fuel burnup being significantly higher than recent technology experience, which is about 18% for U-10 wt%Zr metallic fuel to be considered. Yet, the mentioned core parameters demonstrate high sensitivity to the fuel management strategy selected for the reactor. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop a practical tool for the improvement of the core characteristics by fuel management optimization, which is based on advanced optimization techniques such as Genetic Algorithms (GA). The calculation results obtained by a simplified reactor model can serve as estimates of achievable values for mentioned core parameters, which are necessary to make decisions at the preliminary optimization stage.     

陶瓷电熔炉在动力堆高放废液玻璃固化中适用性分析

随着我国核电事业发展和核燃料循环体系日益完善,玻璃固化动力堆高放废液的需求已提上日程。为探讨陶瓷电熔炉技术在我国后续动力堆高放废液玻璃固化项目中的适用性,本文从源项、熔炉技术特点和熔炉更换解体三个方面进行了分析,认为陶瓷电熔炉技术可以用于玻璃固化动力堆产生的高放废液。     

乏燃料后处理厂核材料衡算仿真

为优化乏燃料后处理设施的核材料衡算,寻找核材料衡算不平衡差（MUF）的主要因素,采用基于数值模拟的系统仿真方法,以核材料衡算视角构建乏燃料后处理设施核材料衡算仿真模型。改变模型工艺参数仿真不同规模的后处理设施中各环节核材料的流通量,然后以正态分布随机变量模拟各铀钚衡算测量点的随机误差,将这些带有随机特征的测量值叠加相应测量的系统误差作为核材料的仿真测量值。仿真计算结果表明,1AF中Pu、U含量测量的系统误差的方差分别占整体MUF方差的50%、40%以上,是主要误差来源。1AF的体积测量误差较小,占比MUF方差小于15%。废液中U和Pu含量很低,U和Pu含量测量的误差分别为10%和30%,对MUF方差影响不大,占比MUF方差分别小于3%和1%,废液的体积测量误差较小,占比MUF方差小于1%。U和Pu产品测量误差的方差占比MUF方差界于1AF和废液的测量之间,不是MUF误差的主要来源。     

PUREX流程中TBP辐解产物对Pu（Ⅳ）反萃的影响研究

PUREX流程中,萃取剂和稀释剂在强辐照场下会发生辐解,部分辐解产物使Pu（Ⅳ）的反萃变得困难。本文通过实验研究,获取了辐解产物与Pu（Ⅳ）保留的比例关系。结果表明,辐解产物磷酸二丁酯（HDBP）与羟胺（HAN）、稀硝酸难以反萃的Pu（Ⅳ）摩尔浓度之比约为2,磷酸一丁酯（H₂MBP）与HAN难以反萃的Pu（Ⅳ）的摩尔浓度之比为1~2。结合文献报导,获取了不同辐解产物在PUREX流程中的产生量,从而较系统地比较了各辐解产物对Pu（Ⅳ）反萃的影响程度,并对主要辐解产物在PUREX流程中不同Pu（Ⅳ）反萃工艺段的影响进行了讨论。结果表明：热堆乏燃料后处理流程中对Pu（Ⅳ）反萃造成影响的主要辐解产物为HDBP,快堆乏燃料后处理流程中对Pu（Ⅳ）反萃造成影响的主要辐解产物为HDBP和H2MBP。     

加速器驱动先进核能系统的乏燃料循环再生研究北大核心CSCD

乏燃料后处理是核燃料循环的关键环节,制约核电的可持续发展。借助于加速器驱动先进核能系统(ADANES)提供的高通量、硬能谱的外源中子,其乏燃料后处理只需除去乏燃料中的挥发性裂变产物和影响次锕系元素嬗变的中子毒物,长寿命的次锕系元素Np、Am、Cm可与二氧化铀一起转化为新的燃料元件在加速器驱动燃烧器中燃烧、嬗变、增殖和产能。基于此,本课题组提出了加速器驱动的乏燃料后处理及再生制备的技术路线,包括高温氧化粉化与挥发、选择性溶解分离和燃料再生制备。本文主要介绍了近几年本课题组在这三方面所取得的一些成就,希望能为加速器驱动先进核能系统的乏燃料后处理提供基础数据。     

Computational analysis of neutronic effects of ThO2 rods loaded in CANDU 6 fuel assemblies

Thorium as a suitable fertile with higher natural resources in comparison with uranium resources has been remarkably considered by different nuclear energy user countries in the last decades. Its prominent features such as suitable possibility for power flattening of a nuclear reactor, applicable breeder blanket to produce~(233)U fissile as well as neutron leakage prevention from a nuclear core has caused its application as power flatter, breeder material or other aimed utilizations be evaluated by the researches. In the present study, neutronics of a modeled CANDU 6loaded with Th O_2 and UO_2fuel rods have been computationally studied. The study aimed at reprocessing of burned Th O_2 seeds at CANDU 6 reactor to recover the total produced uranium, which is to be going under another compound fuel cycle. The obtained results showed all the core reactivity coefficients are sufficiently negative. The modeled core 949 GWd burn-up concluding in 99.99 %depletion of~(235)U initial loads. 18.38 kg of~(233) U was produced in the burnt Th O_2 fuel after 1-year burn-up time. In addition, 31.84 kg of~(239) Pu was produced in the UO_2 spent fuel rods after the burn-up time. After a proposed cooling time, about 50.01 kg of~(233)U will be available in the spent Th O_2 fuel.     

我国乏燃料运输现状探讨

随着我国经济的持续发展,核能作为安全、清洁能源在我国能源战略中地位日益突出。在保证安全的前提下,我国核电机组按照国家规划合理增加,乏燃料的产量也将逐步增加。根据我国核电站乏燃料贮存及外运规则,以及我国核电站主要位于东部沿海,而乏燃料后处理厂处在西北腹地这一国情,必将面临乏燃料的大量、长距离及安全运输的问题。乏燃料运输作为联接核电站与后处理厂或最终处置场的纽带,在维持核燃料循环体系的正常运行上发挥至关重要的作用。对国内外乏燃料运输涉及的运输方式、运输容器、运输安全监管及事故应急体系等问题进行了分析和讨论,对我国乏燃料运输中存在问题的解决提出了建议。     

“CANDLE” burnup regime after LWR regime

CANDLE (Constant Axial shape of Neutron flux, nuclide densities and power shape During Life of Energy producing reactor) burnup strategy can derive many merits. From safety point of view, the change of excess reactivity along burnup is theoretically zero, and the core characteristics, such as power feedback coefficients and power peaking factor, are not changed along burnup. Application of this burnup strategy to neutron rich fast reactors makes excellent performances. Only natural or depleted uranium is required for the replacing fuels. About 40% of natural or depleted uranium undergoes fission without the conventional reprocessing and enrichment.

If the LWR produced energy of X Joules, the CANDLE reactor can produce about 50X Joules from the depleted uranium left at the enrichment facility for the LWR fuel. If we can say LWRs have produced energy sufficient for full 20 years, we can produce the energy for 1000 years by using the CANDLE reactors with depleted uranium. We need not mine any uranium ore, and do not need reprocessing facility. The burnup of spent fuel becomes 10 times. Therefore, the spent fuel amount per produced energy is also reduced to one-tenth.

The details of the scenario of CANDLE burnup regime after LWR regime will be presented at the symposium.     

Georgia Tech Studies of Sub-Critical Advanced Burner Reactors with a D-T Fusion Tokamak Neutron Source for the Transmutation of Spent Nuclear Fuel

The possibility that a tokamak D-T fusion neutron source, based on ITER physics and technology, could be used to drive sub-critical, fast-spectrum nuclear reactors fueled with the transuranics (TRU) in spent nuclear fuel discharged from conventional nuclear reactors has been investigated at Georgia Tech in a series of studies which are summarized in this paper. It is found that sub-critical operation of such fast transmutation reactors is advantageous in allowing longer fuel residence time, hence greater TRU burnup between fuel reprocessing stages, and in allowing higher TRU loading without compromising safety, relative to what could be achieved in a similar critical transmutation reactor. The required plasma and fusion technology operating parameter range of the fusion neutron source is generally within the anticipated operational range of ITER. The implications of these results for fusion development policy, if they hold up under more extensive and detailed analysis, is that a D-T fusion tokamak neutron source for a sub-critical transmutation reactor, built on the basis of the ITER operating experience, could possibly be a logical next step after ITER on the path to fusion electrical power reactors. At the same time, such an application would allow fusion to contribute to meeting the nation’s energy needs at an earlier stage by helping to close the fission reactor nuclear fuel cycle.     

Recycling of uranium from spent RBMK fuel in the nuclear fuel cycle

It is shown that there is promise in using the uranium product obtained by reprocessing spent nuclear fuel from RBMK reactors as a non-initial fuel source for thermal reactors. A technical path for spent nuclear fuel from RBMK reactors is proposed: radiochemical reprocessing and obtaining oxides of recycled uranium. Oxides of the category RBMK-poor are packed and then stored in a near-surface storage facility; oxides of the category RBMK-rich are fluoridated, and UF₆ is fed into separation production for additional enrichment to the required content of ²³⁵U. Additional advantages of recycled RBMK uranium as a source of non-initial ²³⁵U are the low content of ²³²U and the relatively low activity of spent fuel, which simplifies its reprocessing.     

Possibility of long-term nuclear power development based on today’s technology

The possibility of long-term nuclear power development with a uranium fuel cycle based on ²³⁸U burnup and todays industrial technology is investigated. It is shown that such development is possible with fast reactors, including with sodium coolant. In this case, incomplete fuel reprocessing is admissable in a closed fuel cycle employing a pyroelectrochemical technology, which allows some fission products and actinides to be present in the fresh fuel prepared for reloading after reprocessing. These fission products and actinides can be burned in a reactor, thereby decreasing the quantity of radioactive wastes compared with the complete reprocessing with chemical separation of the fuel elements and decreasing the radiation load on the environment.Translated from Atomnaya Ènergiya, Vol. 97, No. 4, pp. 252–260, October, 2004.