A Critical Review of the Recent Improvements in Minimizing Nuclear Waste by Innovative Gas-Cooled Reactors

This paper presents a critical review of the recent improvements in minimizing nuclear waste in terms of quantities, long-term activities, and radiotoxicities by innovative GCRs, with particular emphasis to the results obtained at the University of Pisa. Regarding these last items, in the frame of s...

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Main Authors: E. Bomboni, N. Cerullo, G. Lomonaco, V. Romanello
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2008-01-01
Series:Science and Technology of Nuclear Installations
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2008/265430
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author E. Bomboni
N. Cerullo
G. Lomonaco
V. Romanello
author_facet E. Bomboni
N. Cerullo
G. Lomonaco
V. Romanello
author_sort E. Bomboni
collection DOAJ
description This paper presents a critical review of the recent improvements in minimizing nuclear waste in terms of quantities, long-term activities, and radiotoxicities by innovative GCRs, with particular emphasis to the results obtained at the University of Pisa. Regarding these last items, in the frame of some EU projects (GCFR, PUMA, and RAPHAEL), we analyzed symbiotic fuel cycles coupling current LWRs with HTRs, finally closing the cycle by GCFRs. Particularly, we analyzed fertile-free and Pu-Th-based fuel in HTR: we improved plutonium exploitation also by optimizing Pu/Th ratios in the fuel loaded in an HTR. Then, we chose GCFRs to burn residual MA. We have started the calculations on simplified models, but we ended them using more “realistic” models of the reactors. In addition, we have added the GCFR multiple recycling option using keff calculations for all the reactors. As a conclusion, we can state that, coupling HTR with GCFR, the geological disposal issues concerning high-level radiotoxicity of MA can be considerably reduced.
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spelling doaj-art-02f4d7e35f2b4aea96f53debe2baf27e2025-02-03T01:31:34ZengWileyScience and Technology of Nuclear Installations1687-60751687-60832008-01-01200810.1155/2008/265430265430A Critical Review of the Recent Improvements in Minimizing Nuclear Waste by Innovative Gas-Cooled ReactorsE. Bomboni0N. Cerullo1G. Lomonaco2V. Romanello3DIMNP, University of Pisa, CIRTEN, Via Diotisalvi 2, 56126 Pisa, ItalyDIMNP, University of Pisa, CIRTEN, Via Diotisalvi 2, 56126 Pisa, ItalyDIMNP, University of Pisa, CIRTEN, Via Diotisalvi 2, 56126 Pisa, ItalyDIMNP, University of Pisa, CIRTEN, Via Diotisalvi 2, 56126 Pisa, ItalyThis paper presents a critical review of the recent improvements in minimizing nuclear waste in terms of quantities, long-term activities, and radiotoxicities by innovative GCRs, with particular emphasis to the results obtained at the University of Pisa. Regarding these last items, in the frame of some EU projects (GCFR, PUMA, and RAPHAEL), we analyzed symbiotic fuel cycles coupling current LWRs with HTRs, finally closing the cycle by GCFRs. Particularly, we analyzed fertile-free and Pu-Th-based fuel in HTR: we improved plutonium exploitation also by optimizing Pu/Th ratios in the fuel loaded in an HTR. Then, we chose GCFRs to burn residual MA. We have started the calculations on simplified models, but we ended them using more “realistic” models of the reactors. In addition, we have added the GCFR multiple recycling option using keff calculations for all the reactors. As a conclusion, we can state that, coupling HTR with GCFR, the geological disposal issues concerning high-level radiotoxicity of MA can be considerably reduced.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2008/265430
spellingShingle E. Bomboni
N. Cerullo
G. Lomonaco
V. Romanello
A Critical Review of the Recent Improvements in Minimizing Nuclear Waste by Innovative Gas-Cooled Reactors
Science and Technology of Nuclear Installations
title A Critical Review of the Recent Improvements in Minimizing Nuclear Waste by Innovative Gas-Cooled Reactors
title_full A Critical Review of the Recent Improvements in Minimizing Nuclear Waste by Innovative Gas-Cooled Reactors
title_fullStr A Critical Review of the Recent Improvements in Minimizing Nuclear Waste by Innovative Gas-Cooled Reactors
title_full_unstemmed A Critical Review of the Recent Improvements in Minimizing Nuclear Waste by Innovative Gas-Cooled Reactors
title_short A Critical Review of the Recent Improvements in Minimizing Nuclear Waste by Innovative Gas-Cooled Reactors
title_sort critical review of the recent improvements in minimizing nuclear waste by innovative gas cooled reactors
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2008/265430
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