Merk Bruno, Litskevich Dzianis, Bankhead Mark, Taylor Richard J
University of Liverpool, School of Engineering, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
National Nuclear Laboratory, Chadwick House, Warrington, United Kingdom.
PLoS One. 2017 Jul 27;12(7):e0180703. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180703. eCollection 2017.
A solution for the nuclear waste problem is the key challenge for an extensive use of nuclear reactors as a major carbon free, sustainable, and applied highly reliable energy source. Partitioning and Transmutation (P&T) promises a solution for improved waste management. Current strategies rely on systems designed in the 60's for the massive production of plutonium. We propose an innovative strategic development plan based on invention and innovation described with the concept of developments in s-curves identifying the current boundary conditions, and the evolvable objectives. This leads to the ultimate, universal vision for energy production characterized by minimal use of resources and production of waste, while being economically affordable and safe, secure and reliable in operation. This vision is transformed into a mission for a disruptive development of the future nuclear energy system operated by burning of existing spent nuclear fuel (SNF) without prior reprocessing. This highly innovative approach fulfils the sustainability goals and creates new options for P&T. A proof on the feasibility from neutronic point of view is given demonstrating sufficient breeding of fissile material from the inserted SNF. The system does neither require new resources nor produce additional waste, thus it provides a highly sustainable option for a future nuclear system fulfilling the requests of P&T as side effect. In addition, this nuclear system provides enhanced resistance against misuse of Pu and a significantly reduced fuel cycle. However, the new system requires a demand driven rethinking of the separation process to be efficient.
解决核废料问题是广泛使用核反应堆作为主要无碳、可持续且应用高度可靠能源的关键挑战。核素分离与嬗变（P&T）有望为改善废物管理提供解决方案。当前策略依赖于60年代设计的用于大规模生产钚的系统。我们基于发明和创新提出了一项创新战略发展计划，用S曲线发展概念来描述，确定当前边界条件和可演变目标。这带来了能源生产的终极、普遍愿景，其特点是资源使用最少、废物产生最少，同时在经济上可承受，运行安全、可靠。这一愿景转化为一项使命，即对未来核能系统进行颠覆性开发，该系统通过燃烧现有乏核燃料（SNF）而无需事先后处理来运行。这种高度创新的方法实现了可持续发展目标，并为核素分离与嬗变创造了新选择。从中子学角度给出了可行性证明，表明从插入的乏核燃料中可充分增殖裂变材料。该系统既不需要新资源也不产生额外废物，因此作为副作用，它为满足核素分离与嬗变要求的未来核系统提供了高度可持续的选择。此外，这种核系统增强了对钚滥用的抗性，并显著缩短了燃料循环。然而，新系统需要根据需求重新思考分离过程以提高效率。
