ORNL-5388 - the Molten Salt Energy Technologies Web Site

U39 PRICE Gf 40 $/I
IN YEAR Of STARTUP
REACTOR
OPTIONS: LWR SSCR
6-21
TIME FRAME: 2010 TO 2040
U308 PRICE: I40 $p IN YEAR OF STARTUP INCRWING TO
180 S/I,AT THE END OF THE PLANT LIFE
Since the valuation of the bred fissile material is related to the cumulative U308
price structure, the rate at which the U308 i s consumed during a particular scenario also
affects the time-dependent price calculated for the bred fissile material.
tion of the resource base (i.e., a high energy demand) yields a rapidly rising shadow
price. Such an effect is readily noticeable in the calculation of the power costs of
breeder reactors since it is possible for the credit calculated for the bred material to
exceed the period's charges for the reactor's inventory. Thus, the net fuel expense for
certain systems producing highly valued fissile material can be negative, resulting in
significant power cost differences when compared to the reactor systems operating with
high-cost natural resources.
Fig. 6.1-8 in which the power costs of a fast breeder and of an LEU-LWR are plotted as a
function of U308 price.
increasing fuel expense caused by the U308 price. The declining fast reactor power cost
reflects the increasing value of (and hence larger credit for) the bred material when
compared to U308-derived fissile material.
Rapid consump-
This type of phenomenon is illustrated schematically by
The rising power cost of the LWR is directly attributable to the
The situation is still complicated even if one considers only the conceptually
simple case of the throwaway cycle. From Fig. 6.1-9, where for simplicity the price of
U308 was assumed to be constant over the life of the plant, it appears that the LWR is
the least expensive reactor when the U308 price is fess than $60/lb, and that the HWR
will be less expensive than the LWR when the U308 price is greater than $160/lb. However,
an examination of the uncertainties leads one again to the conclusion that they dominate
the problem, and that conclusions based on economic arguments are tenuous at best. Thus,
the decision was made to construct or not construct a nuclear unit on the basis of its
ability to extend the U308 supply rather than on its relative cost.