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6-6
6.1.2. Reactor Options
The reactor designs included in this study have not been optimized to cover every con-
ceivable nuclear policy option. Such a task is clearly impossible until the options have
been reduced to a more manageable number.
by using detailed design procedures and they are more than adequate for a reactor strategy
study such as is described here.
However, the designs selected have been developed
Table 6.1-1. Estimates of Us08 Supply Available in U.S.A.a
Resources (lo3 ST)
Forward
cost
($71 b) Known Probable Possible Speculative To tal
aFrom ref. 1.
~
15 360 560 485 165 1,570
30 690 1,065 1,120 41 5 3,290
50b 875 1,450 1,470 5 70 4 , 365
bAt $50/lb, the known reserves of 875 x lo3 ST plus the probable reserves of 1,450 x 103
ST plus 140 x 103 ST from byproducts (phosphates and copper) total 2,465 x 103 ST (or %
2.5 million ST). If the possible and speculative resources are included, the total is
increased to 4,505 x lo3 ST (or % 4.5 million ST).
Four general types of reactors are included:
LWRs, represented by Pressurized Water
Reactors (PWRs) ; HWRs, represented by Canadian Deuterium Uranium Reactors (CANDUS) ; High
Temperature Gas Cooled Reactors (HTGRs); and Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs). The data for the
PWRs were provided by Combustion Engineering (CE) and Hanford Engineering Development Lab-
oratory (HEDL); the data for the CANDUs by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL); the data for
the HTGRs by General Atomic (GA); and the data for the FBRs by HEDL.
standard LWRs (PWRs) , spectral-shift-controlled PWRs (SSCRs) are also included in the study,
the data for the SSCRs being provided by CE. Descriptions of the individual reactors used
in the study are given in Tables 6.1-2 and 6.1-3 (ref. 7), and the economic data base for
each is given in Appendix B.
In addition to the
The LWR designs include reactors fueled with low-enriched and denatured 23511, denatured
233U, and plutonium, the diluent for the denatured designs consisting of either 2381) or
thorium, or both. In addition, a low-enriched LWR design optimized for throwaway has been
studied, and also three SSCRs fueled with low-enriched 23511, denatured 233U, and Pu/Th.
The HWRs are represented by three 235U-fueled reactors (natural , slightly enriched,
and denatured), a denatured 233U reactor, a P U / ~ ~ reactor, ~ U and a Pu/Th reactor. The HTGR
designs consist of low-enriched, denatured, and highly enriched z35U reactors; denatured*
and highly enriched 233U reactors; and a Pu/Th reactor.
The FBR designs consist of two PU/*~~U core designs (one with a 238U blanket and one
with a thorium blanket) and one Pu/Th core design (with a thorium blanket). In addition, a
233U/238U core design with a thorium blan\et has been studied. The 233U enrichment is less
than 12%, and thus this FBR is a denatured design.
*In contrast to the other reactor types, the denatured 233U HTGR design is assumed to contain
15% 233U in 238U instead of 12%.
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