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22.251

Systems Analysis of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle

3-2-7 units · Graduate

Study of the relationship between the technical and policy elements of the nuclear fuel cycle. Topics include uranium supply, enrichment, fuel fabrication, in-core reactivity and fuel management of uranium and other fuel types, used fuel reprocessing and waste disposal. Principles of fuel cycle economics and the applied reactor physics of both contemporary and proposed thermal and fast reactors are presented. Nonproliferation aspects, disposal of excess weapons plutonium, and transmutation of long lived radioisotopes in spent fuel are examined. Several state-of-the-art computer programs relevant to reactor core physics and heat transfer are provided for student use in problem sets and term papers. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

Fall 2009

This course provides an in-depth technical and policy analysis of various options for the nuclear fuel cycle. Topics include uranium supply, enrichment fuel fabrication, in-core physics and fuel management of uranium, thorium and other fuel types, reprocessing and waste disposal. Also covered are the principles of fuel cycle economics and the applied reactor physics of both contemporary and proposed thermal and fast reactors. Nonproliferation aspects, disposal of excess weapons plutonium, and transmutation of actinides and selected fission products in spent fuel are examined. Several state-of-the-art computer programs are provided for student use in problem sets and term papers.

Readings

  • The required course textbook is:
    Listed reading
  • Cochran R. G., and N. Tsoulfanidis. The Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Analysis and Management . 2nd ed. La Grange Park, IL: American Nuclear Society, 1993. ISBN: 9780894484513.
    Listed reading
  • The reading assignments listed below are from the following textbook:
    Listed reading
  • [DDP] = Driscoll, M. J., T. J. Downar, and E. E. Pilat. The Linear Reactivity Model for Nuclear Fuel Management . La Grange Park, IL: American Nuclear Society, 1991. ISBN: 9780894480355.
    Listed reading
  • Chapter 1 (Section 1.3.1; Equation 1.7; Table 1.2)
    Listed reading
  • Chapter 2 (Section 2.5; pp. 53-59)
    Listed reading
  • Chapter 3 (Sections 3.1 through 3.3; 3.9)
    Listed reading
  • Chapter 4 (Sections 4.1 through 4.3; 4.8)
    Listed reading
  • Chapter 5 (Sections 5.1 through 5.2; Table 5.1)
    Listed reading
  • Chapter 6 (Sections 6.3 and 6.6)
    Listed reading
  • Wilson, P. D. The Nuclear Fuel Cycle: from Ore to Wastes . New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1996. ISBN: 9780198565406.
    Listed reading
  • Driscoll, M. J., T. J. Downar, and E. E. Pilat. The Linear Reactivity Model for Nuclear Fuel Management . La Grange Park, IL: American Nuclear Society, 1991. ISBN: 9780894480355.
    Listed reading
  • Levine, S. H. “Fuel Management.” In CRC Handbook of Nuclear Reactor Calculations . Edited by Y. Ronan. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1987. ISBN: 9780849329272.
    Listed reading
  • Benedict, M., T. H. Pigford, and H. W. Levi. Nuclear Chemical Engineering . 2nd ed. Columbus, OH: McGraw-Hill, 1981. ISBN: 9780070045316.
    Listed reading
  • Rasmussen, N. C., et al. Nuclear Waste: Technologies for Separations and Transmutation . Washington, DC: National Research Council, 1996. ISBN: 9780309052269.
    Listed reading
  • Complex Cleanup: The Environmental Legacy of Nuclear Weapons Production . Office of Technology Assessment, US Congress, 1991. ISBN: 9780160291623.
    Listed reading
  • Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Reactor Strategies: Adjusting to New Realities . IAEA, 1997. ISBN: 9789201037978.
    Listed reading
  • Knief, R. A. Nuclear Energy Technology . 2nd ed. Miami, FL: Hemisphere Press, 1992. ISBN: 9780070350861.
    Listed reading
  • Marshall, W. Nuclear Power Technology: Volume 2: Fuel Cycle . New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1984. ISBN: 9780198519584.
    Listed reading
  • The Economics of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle . NEA/ OECD, 1994. ISBN: 9789264141544.
    Listed reading
  • “Water Reactor Extended Burn-Up Study (WREBUS).” IAEA Technical Report Series , no. 343 (1992).
    Listed reading
  • Gavrilas, M., P. Hejzlar, N. E. Todreas, and Y. Shatilla. Safety Features of Operating Light Water Reactors of Western Design . 2nd ed. Center for Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems (CANES), 2000.
    Listed reading
  • Deutch, J., C. Forsberg, M. Driscoll, A. Kadak, M. Kazimi, and E. Moniz. “Update 2009.”
    Listed reading
  • Guerin, L., and M. S. Kazimi. “Impact of Alternatives Nuclear Fuel Cycle Option on Infrastructure and Fuel Requirements, Actinide & Waste Management and Economics.” September 2009: 1-257.
    Listed reading
  • The Boston Consulting Group. “Economic Assessment of Used Nuclear Fuel Management in the US.” July 2006: 1-96.
    Listed reading
  • Bunn, M., et al. “The Economics of Reprocessing Versus Direct Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel.” Nuclear Technology 150, no. 3 (2005): 209-230.
    Listed reading
  • Shropshire, D. E., et al. “Advanced Fuel Cycle Cost Basis.” INL/EXT-07-12107 (2007): 1- 554.
    Listed reading

Prerequisites & course information

Subject meets with 22.051 Prereq: 22.05 Acad Year 2027-2028: Not offered Acad Year 2028-2029: G (Fall) 3-2-7 units

Sources