The Accelerator Driven Systems, a 21st Century Option for Closing Nuclear Fuel Cycles and Transmuting Minor Actinides

Hamid Aït Abderrahim,Michel Giot

doi:10.3390/su132212643

Hamid Aït Abderrahim, Michel Giot

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212643

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Abstract

Closing the nuclear fuel cycle and transmuting Minor Actinides (MAs) can be considered as an application of the duty of care principle which says that, “before the final disposal of any waste, any possible chemical and/or physical treatment has to be applied in order to reduce the waste’s toxicity, provided the treatment does not convey unacceptable risks or unacceptable costs”. Forty years of complex research and development has shown that Accelerator Driven Systems could provide a solution to the challenge posed by spent nuclear fuels, by enabling the ability to considerably decrease their radiotoxicity lifetime burden and volume. In particular, a multilateral strategy of treatment of the MAs could be a commendable solution for both the countries phasing out the exploitation of nuclear energy and for those pursuing and developing this exploitation. The pre-industrial assessment of the technical and financial feasibility for industrialization is the next step. This applies to the four R&D and Demonstration building blocks: advanced separation, MAs’ loaded fuel fabrication, dedicated transmuters demonstration (MYRRHA) and provision for MAs’ fuel loaded processing. A global vision of the process leading to a sustainable option is proposed.

Highlights

Some confusion persists in the public opinions between spent nuclear fuel and high-level, long-lived nuclear waste
Actinides (MAs) and transmute them, while separating some specific fission products responsible for a high heat source, and conditioning them separately. This alternative route would considerably reduce the hazard associated with the deep geological repositories, by decreasing the volume and the radiotoxicity lifetime burden of what would remain as an ultimate waste
After a short analysis of the radiotoxicity of the spent fuel, we successively examine a strategy of radiotoxicity reduction for countries which have opted for nuclear phase-out on the one hand, and for countries pursuing the use of nuclear energy resources on the other hand

Summary

Introduction

Some confusion persists in the public opinions between spent nuclear fuel and high-level, long-lived nuclear waste. Actinides (MAs) and transmute them, while separating some specific fission products responsible for a high heat source, and conditioning them separately. This alternative route would considerably reduce the hazard associated with the deep geological repositories, by decreasing the volume and the radiotoxicity lifetime burden of what would remain as an ultimate waste. It is associated with the optimal use of the energetic materials contained in the nuclear fuel for the benefit of the future generations

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