Abstract
Alternative nuclear fuel cycles could contribute to the future of nuclear fission technology reducing the use of natural resources, waste management and lessening greenhouse gas emissions. To increase understanding of future technologies, analysis of power generation systems are essential and supports long-term decision-making. On this basis, this research presents an evaluation and comparison considering the use of alternative nuclear fuels in Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR) based on the Brazilian nuclear energy system. Assessment results show consumption of resources, inventories of spent fuel, nuclear waste, greenhouse gas emissions and costs of nuclear fuels. Among the main results, Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel appears as the most promising by multi-criteria analysis considering two of the three evaluated areas. On the other hand, if costs have an importance greater than 55%, the conventional fuel UOX appears as the most advantageous. Thorium-uranium dioxide (TRU-U) and Transuranic-thorium dioxide (TRU-Th) fuels are in intermediate positions, along with Uranium oxide (UOX), and may still be options depending on the intentions of decision-makers.
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