ORNL-5388 - the Molten Salt Energy Technologies Web Site

Table 6.1-4. Nuclear Policy Options'
Throwaway/Stowaway Option (see Fig. 6.1-1)
b
Option 1: LEU (235U/238U) converters operating on the throwaway/stowaway cycle are permitted outside the energy centers and no reactors
are operated inside the centers. Spent fuel is returned to the secure energy centers for ultimate disposal.
Plutonium-Uranium Options (see Fig. 6.1.2)
Option 2: LEU (235U/238U) converters are operated outside the secure energy centers and Pu/U converters and 295U(HE)Th, 233U/Th,
and Pu/Th HTGR's are permitted inside the centers. Uranium is recycled in all reactors, and plutonium is recycled in energy-center reactors.
Option 3: LEU (235U/238Uj converters are operated outside the secure energy centers and Pu/U converters, Pu-U/U breeders, and
235U(HE)/Th, 233U/Th, and Pu/Th HTGRs are permitted inside the centers. Uranium is recycled in all the reactors, and plutonium is recycled
in the energy-center reactors.
Denatured Uranium Options with Converters Only (see Fig. 6.1-3)
Option 4: LEU (235U/23eU) converters and denatured 235U and 233U converters are operated outside the energy centers and no reactors are
operated inside the centers. The fissile uranium is recycled into the converters, but the plutonium is stored inside the centers either for.
ultimate disposal or for future use at an unspecified date.
option 5U: LEU (235U/238U) converters and denatured 235U and 233U converters are operated outside the energy centers and Pu/Th converters
are permitted inside the centers. The fissile uranium is recycled into the outslde reactors and the plutonium into the inside reactors.
The goal in this case is to minimize the mount of pZutonium produced and to "transmute" all that is produced into 233U in the energycenter
reactors.
Option 5T: LEU (235U/238U) converters and denatured 233U converters are operated outside the energy centers and Pu/Th converters are
permitted inside the centers. The fissile uranium is recycled into the outside reactors and the plutonium into the inside reactors. The
goal in this case is not to minimize the mount of plutonium produced but "transmute" all that is produced to 233U in the energy-center
reactors.
Denatured Uranium Options with Converters and Breeders (see Fig, 6.1-4)
Option 6: LEU (233U/238U) converters and denatured 235U and 233U converters are operated outside the energy centers and Pu/Th converters
and Pu-U/Th breeders (Pu-U cores, Th blankets) are permitted inside the centers. The fissile uranium is recycled into the outside
reactors and the inside breeders and plutonium is recycled into the inside converters and breeders. With the reactors used, only a light
'%-to-233U" transmutation rate is realized.
Option 7: LEU (235U/238U) converters, denatured 235U and 233U converters. and denatured 23311 breeders are operated outside the energy
centers and Pu/Th converters and Pu-U/Th breeders (Pu-U cores, Th blankets) are permitted inside the centers. The fissile uranium is recycled
into the outside reactors and the inside breeders and plutonium is recycled in the inside converters and breeders. With the reactors
used, only a light %-t0-~33U" trunsmtution rate is realized. This case represents the first time a denatured breeder is introduced in
the system.
Option 8: LEU (235U/238U) converters, denatured 2351) and 233U converters, and denatured 233U breeders are operated outside the energy
Centers and Pu/Th converters and Pu-Th/Th breeders (Pu-Th cores, Th blankets) are permitted inside the centers. The fissile uranium is
recycled into the outside reactors and the plutonium into the inside reactors. With the reactors used, a heavy "FU-~O-~~~U~' transmutation
rate is realized. Again a denatured breeder is utilized in the system.
'In all options except Option 1, spent fuel is returned to the secure energy centers for reprocessing. For Option 1, the Spent fuel is
returned to the center for ultimate disposal.
bHWRs that are fueled with natural or slightly enriched uranium are included ln this category.