Nuclear wastes : technologies for separations and transmutation / Committee on Separations Technology and Transmutation Systems, Board on Radioactive Waste Management, Commission on Geosciences, Environment, and Resources, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Research Council Staff, Corporate Author.

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Separations Technology and Transmutation Systems.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Radioactive wastes--Purification.

Radioactive wastes.

Separation (Technology).

Radioactive wastes--Transmutation.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (589 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : National Academy Press, 1996.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Disposal of radioactive waste from nuclear weapons production and power generation has caused public outcry and political consternation. Nuclear Wastes presents a critical review of some waste management and disposal alternatives to the current national policy of direct disposal of light water reactor spent fuel. The book offers clearcut conclusions for what the nation should do today and what solutions should be explored for tomorrow. The committee examines the currently used "once-through" fuel cycle versus different alternatives of separations and transmutation technology systems, by which hazardous radionuclides are converted to nuclides that are either stable or radioactive with short half-lives. The volume provides detailed findings and conclusions about the status and feasibility of plutonium extraction and more advanced separations technologies, as well as three principal transmutation concepts for commercial reactor spent fuel. The book discusses nuclear proliferation; the U.S. nuclear regulatory structure; issues of health, safety and transportation; the proposed sale of electrical energy as a means of paying for the transmutation system; and other key issues.

Contents:

Nuclear Wastes

Copyright

Preface

Contents

Executive Summary

THE "ONCE-THROUGH" FUEL CYCLE

THE S&amp

T CONCEPTS

OVERALL CONCLUSIONS

DETAILED FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

Findings Regarding Potential Radiological Effects of S&amp

T

Findings Regarding Separations Technology

Separations Technology Requirements for ALMR and LWR

Separations Technology Requirements for the ATW

Findings Regarding Transmutation Technology

Current Status of LWR, ALMR, and ATW

Relative Capabilities of the Concepts for TRU Transmutation

ALMR

LWR

ATW

Findings Regarding Feasibility, Development, and Deployment

Findings Regarding System Integration

The Nature of an S&amp

T System

Findings Regarding Economics

Issues

Implications of Fuel Reprocessing Costs

Pyroprocessing and Cost Perspective

Findings Regarding Effects on Repository Capacity and Program

The Need to Dispose of Fission Products and Residual Wastes

Transmutation and Repository Capacity

Findings Regarding Nontechnical Issues

Institutional and Public Policy Considerations

Legislative and Administrative Constraints

Financing

Proliferation Issues

Public Acceptance

Findings Regarding Research and Development

Scope for Research and Development

Findings Regarding Defense Wastes

Safety of Hanford Waste Storage Tanks

Characterization of Hanford Tank Wastes

Retrieval, Separation and Treatment Potential for Hanford Tank Wastes

PRINCIPAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Chapter One Introduction

COMMITTEE MISSION AND OPERATION

Committee Formation and Mandate

Why Actinide Burning is Being Reconsidered

Institutional Incentives

Technical Incentives

Scope of Study

Time-Frame

S&amp

T Areas

Technologies

BACKGROUND ON SPENT REACTOR FUEL AND HIGH-LEVEL WASTE DISPOSAL.

History

Current Waste Disposal Situation

Spent Reactor Fuel

Defense High-Level Waste

Current Policies Governing High-Level Waste Management

Commercial Spent Fuel

ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT

REFERENCES

Chapter Two Summaries of S&amp

T Proposals and Radionuclides Release Scenarios in Repository

SOURCE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF RADIONUCLIDES IN SPENT FUEL

Radioactivity Produced by Reactors

Toxicity Considerations and Isotopes of Concern

Toxicity Index

Isotopes of Principal Concern

The Uranium Problem

SUMMARY OF S&amp

T PROPOSALS AND TECHNOLOGY STATEMENTS

Light-Water Reactor (LWR)

Advanced Liquid-Metal Reactor (ALMR)

Accelerator Transmutation of Nuclear Waste (ATW)

Separations Technology and Commercial Spent-Fuel Reprocessing

Separations and Transmutation of Plutonium Only

RADIONUCLIDES AND REPOSITORY PERFORMANCE

LWR Spent Fuel Characterization

Estimating Radiological Repository Risk

Radionuclide Release Scenarios

An Optimized Waste Form

Chapter Three Separations Technology

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Aqueous Processes

Nonaqueous Processes

TYPES OF WASTES

Defense Nuclear Waste

TYPES OF SEPARATIONS

PUREX Process

TRUEX Process

Other Aqueous Processes

Non-Aqueous Processes

Electrochemical Separations-IFR

Molten Salt Processes-ATW

Fluoride Volatility Processes

SEPARATIONS FOR TRANSMUTATION OF LWR FUEL

Separations for Burning in LWRs

Separations for Burning in IFRs

Separations for Burning in Accelerator-Driven Reactors

Aqueous Methods

Nonaqueous Methods

Combination Methods

CONCLUSIONS

Chapter Four Transmutation Systems

TRANSMUTATION PROCESSES AND CONCEPTS

Transmutation Processes.

Transmutation of Key Fission Products

Transmutation of Transuranics

Transmutation Reactor Approaches

Classes of Reactor Concepts

Engineering and Materials Issues

Program Funding

International Activities

Overview of Critical Reactor Concepts

Fast Critical Reactor Concepts

Thermal Critical Reactor Concepts

Overview of Accelerator-Driven Reactor Concepts

Separations with Transmutation of Plutonium (only)

REDUCTION OF TRANSURANIC INVENTORIES

Introduction

The Transuranic (TRU) Ratio

Scenarios for Constant Transmuter Power

Declining Power Scenario

Inventories and Transmutation Rates

Constant-Power ALMRs, Unlimited Supply of TRUs From Stockpile of LWR Spent Fuel

Constant-Power ALMRs, Limited Stockpile of LWR Spent Fuel, Additional LWRs

Constant-Power ATWs

Declining-Power ATWs

Constant-Power LWR Transmuters

Declining-Power LWR Transmuters

PBR Transmuters

Nonbreeding Transmuters Converted to Breeders After Stockpile Depletion

Constant Power Transmuters Followed by Declining Power Shutdown

Summary

REDUCTION OF KEY FISSION PRODUCT INVENTORIES

SAFETY ISSUES FOR THE REACTOR, FUEL MATERIALS, AND SUPPORTING FUEL CYCLE

Decay-Heat and Target-Heat Removal

Reactivity Control

Reactivity Transients

Materials Degradation

Fluid Fuels in the ATW

Potential for Reduction in Mining and Milling Hazards

DEVELOPMENT TIME, COST, FEASIBILITY, AND RISK THROUGH SYSTEM DEMONSTRATION

LWR Transmutation System

ALMR/IFR Transmutation System

Accelerator Transmutation of Waste (ATW)

Other (Secondary) Transmutation Concepts

PBR Transmutation System

Phoenix Transmutation System

TIME SCALES AND COSTS FOR MODEL SYSTEM DEPLOYMENTS

Basis for Transmutation System Deployments

Deployments for Declining Nuclear Power

Reprocessing Requirements and Deployment Rate.

Deployments for Steady Nuclear Power Generation

COMPARATIVE THERMAL AND ELECTRICAL EFFICIENCIES

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

Chapter Five Defense Wastes

THE HANFORD TANKS

Inventory and Characterization of Stored Waste

Remediation Processing Considerations

SCENARIOS FOR HANFORD TANK REMEDIATION

Decision Factors

Alternative Scenarios

No Separations Option

Sludge Washing

Solvent Extraction for Actinide Concentration

Extensive Separations

In-Place Option

Pristine Site Restoration

TRU Isolation for Transmutation

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Chapter Six Analysis of the Issues

IMPACT OF S&amp

T ON WASTE REPOSITORY

Evaluation of Possible Repository Releases

Effects of S&amp

T Processes

Impact on the First Repository

Impact on a Second Repository

Conclusions

TRANSPORTATION-RELATED ISSUES

Nuclear Material Transport

Transportation Package Technology

Regulations Related to Transportation Packages

PROLIFERATION ISSUES

Nuclear Nonproliferation and the Once-Through Fuel Cycle

Proliferation Issues Related to S&amp

T Systems

Diversion Threats

Abrogation Threats

HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES

Health Impacts

Health Effects of Fuel Cycles

Health Effects of Transmutation

COST OF FUEL REPROCESSING

Relative Economics of Reprocessing versus Once-Through Fuel Cycle for LWRs

Capital Costs and Throughouts of Contemporary Reprocessing Plants

Operating Costs

Financing Costs

Private Financing

Utility Financing

Government-Owned Reprocessing Facility

Unit Costs of LWR Reprocessing with U.S. Financing

Costs Associated With Other Reprocessing Plant Studies

POLICY, INSTITUTIONAL, AND MANAGEMENT ISSUES

Policy.

Licensing, Siting, and Public Acceptance

Financial Provisions

System Requirements

REGULATORY ISSUES

Current Federal Regulations

Once-Through Cycle

Waste Storage and Disposal

The Regulatory Role of the States

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS

Civilian Reactor Spent Fuels

Neutralized Defense High-Level Waste

Appendixes

Appendix A Statement Of Work

Appendix B List Of Committee and Subcommittee Activities

Appendix C Base Case Once-Through Uranium Fuel Cycle for Light-Water Reactor with Geological Repository

Appendix D Separations Technology-Additional Information

Bismuth Phosphate Process

REDOX Process

Fluoride Volatility Processing

Molten-Salt Processes

Electrochemical Separations

Argonne National Laboratory Program in Pyroprocessing as Related to Integral Fast Reactor and Light Water...

Integral Fast Reactor (IFR) Pyroprocessing Separations

Light-Water Reactor (Lwr) Actinide Extraction/Separation Process

Reprocessing Experience In The United States And Abroad

Experience at Various U.S. Sites

West Valley, New York

Morris, Illinois

Barnwell, South Carolina

Future Prospects

Experience Abroad

France

United Kingdom

Japan

The Former Soviet Union

Other Nations

Future Separations Processes

Possible Technologies for Actinide Separation

Solvent Extraction

Ion Exchange And Adsorption

Membrane Processes

Volatilization

Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation

Precipitation

Natural Agents

Transport

Possibilities for Technetium Separation

Solvent Extraction And Ion Exchange

Ozonolysis

Electrodeposition

Magnetic Separation

Engineering Challenges to Separations.

Handling And Drying Of Sludges And Slurries.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786610193332

9780309176484

0309176484

9781280193330

1280193336

9780309561952

0309561957

9780585028804

058502880X

OCLC:

42329406