Management of the Energy and Economic Potential of Nuclear Waste Use

Bader Alshuraiaan,Magdalena Mazur,Anastasia Kurilova,Sergey Pushkin

doi:10.3390/en14123709

Abstract

Recently, issues related to the effects (benefit or harm) of processing nuclear waste and its further use as fuel have been increasingly often raised in the scientific discussion. In this regard, the research aims to investigate issues related to the assessment of the economic potential of nuclear waste use, as well as the cooperation between states in the context of the reduction of risks associated with nuclear waste storage and processing. The research methodology is based on an integrated approach, including statistical, factor analysis, and the proposed system of performance indicators for managing spent nuclear fuel use. The research was carried out on the basis of materials from Russia and the EU countries. In the course of the study, a model of cooperation between states has been developed (based on the example of technologies and methods of processing nuclear waste used in the EU and Russia) according to the nuclear waste (spent nuclear fuel) management algorithm. The model considers the risks and threats associated with ecology and safety. The developments and other results described in the study should be used in further research devoted to the use of nuclear waste as heat-producing elements.

Highlights

The need to search for new sources of fuel and the disposal of hazardous nuclear waste are raising serious issues associated with the use of spent nuclear fuel
The purpose of the study is to determine how new nuclear waste processing technologies (REMIX and MOX technologies are considered in the framework of the study) based on cooperation between states with energy and economic potential in the field of nuclear power will help solve the problems associated with logistics and disposal of nuclear waste, as well as present spent nuclear fuel as a new competitive fuel element alongside traditional and renewable energy
Technology fuel is considered as another type of independent fuel element, which is obtained from the undivided mixture of regenerated uranium and plutonium, which is formed as a result of the use of pyrometallurgical spent nuclear fuel processing technology

Summary

Introduction

The need to search for new sources of fuel and the disposal of hazardous nuclear waste are raising serious issues associated with the use of spent nuclear fuel. Spent nuclear fuel is a rather dangerous type of energy waste requiring expensive disposal; on the other hand, it can be considered as a source of a number of important fuel elements and isotopes that can be used in heating processes [1,2]. The results of the theoretical analysis of terms and approaches to the definition of the concept indicate that spent nuclear fuel can be described as activities that may be associated with processing, reprocessing, transportation, storage, and disposal of fuel elements, in particular, reactive ones [7,8,9,10]

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Conclusion