A novel nonproliferation thorium-based seed-blanket fuel concept for PWRs

A novel once-through, thorium-based, seed-blanket fuel cycle concept has been proposed that offers a number of advantages relative to current uranium-based fuel for commercial light water reactors. The reliance on thorium as part of the fuel enhances the attractiveness of the fuel cycle because of a reduced rate of plutonium generation in the fuel, reduced waste generation per unit energy production, enhanced proliferation resistance, and reduced toxicity characteristics in the spent fuel. The concept, known as Radkowsky thorium fuel (RTF), was proposed by Dr. Alvin Radkowsky and is based in part on the ideas and experiences of the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory light water breeder reactor (LWBR) program as implemented and successfully demonstrated at the Shippingport reactor in the late 1970s. The RTF is a new fuel concept, not a new reactor, that builds on the successful LWBR experience. However, in contrast to the LWBR (and related programs), the RTF concept assumes a once-through fuel cycle with no reprocessing; the {sup 233}U that is bred is burnt in situ, and the fuel rods that contain the {sup 233}U are then disposed of. In addition to reducing the proliferation potential of the standard nuclear fuel cycle, and reducing the requirements formore » spent-fuel storage and disposal, the design is subject to the following constraints: (a) retrofittable into existing pressurized water reactors (PWRs), and the Russian variant of the PWR (VVERs) with minimum changes to existing systems/hardware and operating cycle lengths; (b) competitive economically; and (c) comparable, if not improved, environmental safety, and health characteristics of those of existing PWRs/VVERs (i.e., within the current safety envelope).« less