Advanced Nuclear Reactors—Challenges Related to the Reprocessing of Spent Nuclear Fuel
Nuclear energy can help stop climate change by generating large amounts of emission-free electricity. Nuclear reactor designs are continually being developed to be more fuel efficient, safer, easier to construct, and to produce less nuclear waste. The term advanced nuclear reactors refers either to...
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MDPI AG
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/4080 |
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| author | Katarzyna Kiegiel Tomasz Smoliński Irena Herdzik-Koniecko |
| author_facet | Katarzyna Kiegiel Tomasz Smoliński Irena Herdzik-Koniecko |
| author_sort | Katarzyna Kiegiel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nuclear energy can help stop climate change by generating large amounts of emission-free electricity. Nuclear reactor designs are continually being developed to be more fuel efficient, safer, easier to construct, and to produce less nuclear waste. The term advanced nuclear reactors refers either to Generation III+ and Generation IV or small modular reactors. Every reactor is associated with the nuclear fuel cycle that must be economically viable and competitive. An important matter is optimization of fissile materials used in reactor and/or reprocessing of spent fuel and reuse. Currently operating reactors use the open cycle or partially closed cycle. Generation IV reactors are intended to play a significant role in reaching a fully closed cycle. At the same time, we can observe the growing interest in development of small modular reactors worldwide. SMRs can adopt either fuel cycle; they can be flexible depending on their design and fuel type. Spent nuclear fuel management should be an integral part of the development of new reactors. The proper management methods of the radioactive waste and spent fuel should be considered at an early stage of construction. The aim of this paper is to highlight the challenges related to reprocessing of new forms of nuclear fuel. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c817b6a539ae46b1b3734e551f35bca5 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj-art-c817b6a539ae46b1b3734e551f35bca52025-08-20T03:04:42ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-08-011815408010.3390/en18154080Advanced Nuclear Reactors—Challenges Related to the Reprocessing of Spent Nuclear FuelKatarzyna Kiegiel0Tomasz Smoliński1Irena Herdzik-Koniecko2Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195 Warsaw, PolandInstitute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195 Warsaw, PolandInstitute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195 Warsaw, PolandNuclear energy can help stop climate change by generating large amounts of emission-free electricity. Nuclear reactor designs are continually being developed to be more fuel efficient, safer, easier to construct, and to produce less nuclear waste. The term advanced nuclear reactors refers either to Generation III+ and Generation IV or small modular reactors. Every reactor is associated with the nuclear fuel cycle that must be economically viable and competitive. An important matter is optimization of fissile materials used in reactor and/or reprocessing of spent fuel and reuse. Currently operating reactors use the open cycle or partially closed cycle. Generation IV reactors are intended to play a significant role in reaching a fully closed cycle. At the same time, we can observe the growing interest in development of small modular reactors worldwide. SMRs can adopt either fuel cycle; they can be flexible depending on their design and fuel type. Spent nuclear fuel management should be an integral part of the development of new reactors. The proper management methods of the radioactive waste and spent fuel should be considered at an early stage of construction. The aim of this paper is to highlight the challenges related to reprocessing of new forms of nuclear fuel.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/4080advanced nuclear fuel cyclereprocessingtransmutationnuclear wasteIII/IV generation reactorshigh temperature reactor |
| spellingShingle | Katarzyna Kiegiel Tomasz Smoliński Irena Herdzik-Koniecko Advanced Nuclear Reactors—Challenges Related to the Reprocessing of Spent Nuclear Fuel Energies advanced nuclear fuel cycle reprocessing transmutation nuclear waste III/IV generation reactors high temperature reactor |
| title | Advanced Nuclear Reactors—Challenges Related to the Reprocessing of Spent Nuclear Fuel |
| title_full | Advanced Nuclear Reactors—Challenges Related to the Reprocessing of Spent Nuclear Fuel |
| title_fullStr | Advanced Nuclear Reactors—Challenges Related to the Reprocessing of Spent Nuclear Fuel |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advanced Nuclear Reactors—Challenges Related to the Reprocessing of Spent Nuclear Fuel |
| title_short | Advanced Nuclear Reactors—Challenges Related to the Reprocessing of Spent Nuclear Fuel |
| title_sort | advanced nuclear reactors challenges related to the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel |
| topic | advanced nuclear fuel cycle reprocessing transmutation nuclear waste III/IV generation reactors high temperature reactor |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/4080 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT katarzynakiegiel advancednuclearreactorschallengesrelatedtothereprocessingofspentnuclearfuel AT tomaszsmolinski advancednuclearreactorschallengesrelatedtothereprocessingofspentnuclearfuel AT irenaherdzikkoniecko advancednuclearreactorschallengesrelatedtothereprocessingofspentnuclearfuel |