Advanced concepts for uranium and plutonium multi-recycling
Résumé
The multiple recycling of plutonium and uranium is a main stake to gradually achieve a fully closed nuclear fuel cycle in the future once first Generation IV fast reactors will be deployed into the fleet. To reach this objectives, optimizations of current processes and technologies and, in some cases, development of innovative concepts are required to meet the scientific, technical and economical challenges imposed by the treatment of spent fuels containing increasing Pu content. Based on the significant past experience acquired in France in LWR and FR MOX fuel treatment, RetD studies are in progress at CEA to develop new efficient processes for Pu recycling and for FR MOX fuels fabrication. More compact and economically competitive processes, ensuring the safety/security of the facilities (regarding in particular criticality and proliferation resistance) have to be developed where as plutonium amounts will be one order of magnitude higher than in UOX fuels. New concepts for the head-end operations for MOX dissolution, for the separation of plutonium and uranium by solvent extraction with higher Pu/U ratios, for their conversion into mixed oxides, for MOx fabrication avoiding powder milling, and for optimized management of effluents and waste have been put forward to propose an ambitious program for the 4th generation plants.
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