Comparative study of a stationary two-component nuclear energy system with light water and fast breeder reactors versus one-component one with self-sufficient non-breeding fast neutron reactors

Abstract

Russia is currently in its initial phase of transitioning to a two-component nuclear power structure, consisting of nuclear power plants with thermal and fast reactors operating in a closed nuclear fuel cycle. Alternative approaches to closing the nuclear fuel cycle often have different assumptions regarding the role of fast reactors in this new structure. They can either imply that fast reactors are self-sufficient and are economically viable in such a way, that they can completely replace existing thermal reactor technology, or that they are used for breeding fuel for the whole nuclear energy system and are essentially complementary to VVER reactors in a permanent two component symbiotic structure. The results of this study show that nuclear power scenarios favoring the development of a large-scale fast reactor fleet with a breeding ratio ∼1 without any additional VVER type component in the nuclear power structure is optimal from an economic standpoint.