ORNL-5388 - the Molten Salt Energy Technologies Web Site

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taxes, and fuel cycle. The fuel cycle costs were, in turn, divided into seven components --
23 %, urani um , thori um, enrichment , pl u toni um , fabrication , and reprocessing .
It is to be noted that the power systems calculated were all assumed to be U.S.
based, the input data all being of U.S. origin. With appropriate input modifications,
however, the model could be used for other scenarios. For example, it could be used to
analyze the potential for the deployment of transmuters both to produce power in secure
states and to produce 23% for export to states wishing to base their own power systems
on thermal reactors without national reprocessing.
7.4.2. Data Base
The data required by the model for each reactor type include power level, annual
isotopic charge and discharge, annual fabrication requirements, introduction dates, etc.
These data are presented in Tables 6.1-2 and 6.1-3 in Chapter 6. It is to be pointed out,
however, that the data are for reactors of essentially conventional designs, and that the
up8 requirements for the various reactor types could be reduced through design optimiza-
tion.
(Note: The effect of optimizing LWRs has been considered in a separate analysis
and is discussed in Section 7.4.3 below.).
The major parameters in the economic data base used for this study are capital costs,
uranium costs, fabrication costs, spent fuel disposal costs, reprocessing costs, and money
costs. The entire data base, which was developed in a joint effort involving government
and industry representatives, is presented in Appendix B.
7.4.3. Results for Price-Limited Uranium Supplies
As noted above, the denatured nuclear power systems uti1 ized various combinations
of thermal converters and fast reactors. These in turn were examined under six fuel cycle
options, which are summarized in Table 7.4-1 (Options 4-8). In addition, the same reactor
types were examined under three reference fuel cycle options -- a throwaway/stowaway option
(Option 1) and two plutonium-uranium options (Options 2 and 3). Four cases were considered
under each option, each case being distinguished by the type of converter being emphasized --
LWRs, SSCRs, HWRs, or HTGRs. Thus a total of 36 different nuclear power systems were
analyzed.
The maximum nuclear capacity and the year in which the maximum occurs for each
nuclear system studied is shown in Table 7.4-2 for the two uranium supply assumptions (see
Fig. 7.4-1). As stated earlier, with the intermediate-cost supply it was assumed that 6
million ST of U308 could be recovered at costs less than $160/lb, while with the high-cost
supply it was assumed that 3 million ST of u$8 would be available.