ON THE USE OF PLUTONIUM BURNING FAST REACTORS

ON THE USE OF PLUTONIUM BURNING FAST REACTORS TO REDUCE PWR IRRADIATED ASSEMBLIES’ STOCKPILE 3 rd Workshop on dynamic fuel cycle Timothée Kooyman, DEN, DR, SPRC, LE 2 C 11 TH JULY 2018 5 DÉCEMBRE 2020 11 th July 2018 | PAGE 1

The CAPRA project European collaboration in the nineties with the aim of providing a fast reactor design for plutonium and minor actinides reprocessing. Modification of the European Fast Reactor design to enhance plutonium consumption. Updated in 2015 starting from the new CFV core developed at CEA. CFV breeder core (3. 6 GW) : breeding gain > 0 CAPRA B 1 core (3. 6 GW) : breeding gain ≈ -0, 2 CAPRA D core (3 GW) : breeding gain ≈ -0, 5 This is done by significantly modifying the core design. Two levels of modification of were considered here, with increasing Pu consumption. 5 DÉCEMBRE 2020 11 th July 2018 | PAGE 2

Performances of the CAPRA to reduce Pu inventory We want to answer two questions using the CEA/DEN scenario code COSI and analytical tools : Can CAPRA reactor significantly reduce the PWR irradiated assemblies stockpiles at the horizon 2080 ? Hypothesis : - French fleet replaced by EPR around 2040 - Deployement of two CAPRA reactors in 2064 and 2065 - Period of interest : 20652090 5 DÉCEMBRE 2020 Could CAPRA reactor be used to limit the plutonium inventory during the transition to a closed fuel cycle ? Hypothesis : - Semi-equilibrium situation with EPR-UOX + CAPRA fleet or EPR-UOX – EPR-MOX – CAPRA fleet - 58 GWe of power installed - Stabilization of the plutonium inventory 11 th July 2018 | PAGE 3

Effect on the spent PWR assemblies Reference : 2 FR deployed -1000 t -1800 t 2 CAPRA cores can reduce by 34 % the stock piles of PWR MOX spent fuel by 2090. 5 DÉCEMBRE 2020 11 th July 2018 | PAGE 4

Reprocessing and manufacturing requirements This reduction requires an increase in manufacturing and reprocessing capabilities due to shorter residence times in the CAPRA cores 5 DÉCEMBRE 2020 11 th July 2018 | PAGE 5

Overall impact on plutonium inventory CAPRA consumes between 250 and 500 kg of Pu by year : a limited deployment can only slow down the rate of increase of Pu inventory. 5 DÉCEMBRE 2020 11 th July 2018 | PAGE 6

Overall impact on plutonium inventory What if we try to stabilize the plutonium inventory using CAPRA reactors ? 5 DÉCEMBRE 2020 11 th July 2018 | PAGE 7

EPRTM-UOX – SFR CAPRA SYMBIOTIC FLEET Plutonium isotopic vector is characterized by its quality (ratio of 239 Pu + 241 Pu on total Pu), The balance equation of the fuel cycle is analytically solved. CAPRA B Equilibrium quality 0, 44 TM EPR (%) 0, 56 SFR (%) 0, 44 For a 58 GWe fleet EPRTM 21 SFR 18 Pu inventory by SFR (t) 33 Pu inventory in the fuel cycle (t) 594 CAPRA D 0, 39 0, 71 0, 29 27 13 44 572 Between 1 and 2 CAPRA cores are required to consume the Pu production of an EPR. 5 DÉCEMBRE 2020 11 th July 2018 | PAGE 8

EPRTM-UOX – EPRTM-MOX – SFR CAPRA SYMBIOTIC FLEET If the plutonium is first reprocessed through PWR with MOX fuel, the final quality of the plutonium is too low even for CAPRA cores. CAPRA B Equilibrium quality 0, 45 TM Fraction of EPR UOX 0, 38 Fraction of EPRTM MOX 0, 22 Fraction of SFR 0, 40 For a 58 GWe fleet EPR UOX 14 EPR MOX 8 SFR 16 Pu inventory by SFR (t) 34 Pu inventory in the fuel cycle (t) 623 5 DÉCEMBRE 2020 CAPRA D 0, 34 0, 46 0, 27 0, 26 18 10 12 45 643 11 th July 2018 | PAGE 9

Comparison with current French scenarios The goal of « Palier C » is to stabilize the plutonium inventory in the fuel cycle. The use of CAPRA reactors appears to lead to a significant reduction in the number of SFR required to achieve an equilibrium situation and a small reduction of Pu inventory. EPRTM UOX only EPRTM UOX+ EPRTM MOX CAPRA B 1 CAPRA D Fraction of EPRTM UOX 0, 56 0, 71 0, 38 0, 46 Fraction of EPRTM 30 % MOX 0 0 0, 22 0, 27 Fraction of SFR Pu inventory (t) 0, 44 594 0, 29 572 0, 4 623 0, 26 643 5 DÉCEMBRE 2020 Palier C EPR 100 (2014) % MOX 0 0. 5 0, 6 (3 @ 0. 25 100 % (100 % MOX) 0, 4 ≈ 600 0. 25 > 645 11 th July 2018 | PAGE 10

Comparison with current French scenarios The goal of « Palier C » is to stabilize the plutonium inventory in the fuel cycle. The use of CAPRA reactors appears to lead to a significant reduction in the number of SFR required to achieve an equilibrium situation. EPRTM UOX only EPRTM UOX+ EPRTM MOX CAPRA B 1 CAPRA D Fraction of EPRTM UOX 0, 56 0, 71 0, 38 0, 46 Fraction of EPRTM 30 % MOX 0 0 0, 22 0, 27 Fraction of SFR (Number of SFRs) 0, 44 (18) 0, 29 (14) 0, 4 (16) 0, 26 (13) 5 DÉCEMBRE 2020 Palier C EPR 100 (2014) % MOX 0 0. 5 0, 6 (3 @ 0. 25 100 % (100 % MOX) 0, 4 (16) 0. 25 (12) 11 th July 2018 | PAGE 11

Conclusions CAPRA cores are designed to maximize their plutonium consumption. They can lead to a significant decrease in the stockpile of spent PWR MOX fuel assemblies. However, their performances during a transition towards of a closed fuel cycle are comparable to that of standard fast reactors. Further detailled analysis is required to try to find the optimal solution (reprocessing capabilities, fluxes of waste, ect) Further questions if CAPRA deployement is considered ? Is it possible to transition from CAPRA to breeder if necessary ? How to generate enough plutonium to achieve closure of the fuel cycle with only SFRs ? What about the minor actinides production in the CAPRA cores ? What is the best option ? Can burner cores be used for other purposes (phase-out ? ) 5 DÉCEMBRE 2020 11 th July 2018 | PAGE 12

Thanks for your attention | PAGE 13 11 th July 2018 Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives Centre de Cadarache | 13108 Saint Paul lez Durance Cedex T. +33 (0)4 42 25 23 96 5 DÉCEMBRE 2020 Etablissement public à caractère industriel et commercial | R. C. S Paris B 775 685 019 DEN DER SPRC

Closing the fuel cycle after CAPRA deployment Plutonium mass in the fuel cycle (t) Full SFR fleet : closed fuel cycle ≈1200 t 1. Stabilisation of the inventory by deployment of CAPRA ≈ 600 Pu equilibrium with CAPRA 16 SFR CAPRA B 1450 MWe + 8 EPR MOX + 14 EPR UOX Time 5 DÉCEMBRE 2020 11 th July 2018 | PAGE 14

Closing the fuel cycle after CAPRA deployment Plutonium mass in the fuel cycle (t) Full SFR fleet : closed fuel cycle ≈1200 t 1. Stabilisation of the inventory by deployment of CAPRA 2. Tuning the SFRs design to achieve stabilization at a given level ≈ 600 Pu equilibrium with CAPRA 16 SFR CAPRA B 1450 MWe + 8 EPR MOX + 14 EPR UOX Time 5 DÉCEMBRE 2020 11 th July 2018 | PAGE 15

Closing the fuel cycle after CAPRA deployment Plutonium mass in the fuel cycle (t) Full SFR fleet : closed fuel cycle ≈1200 t 1. Stabilisation of the inventory by deployment of CAPRA 2. Tuning the SFRs design to achieve stabilization at a given level 3. Turning the SFRs into breeders to generate plutonium to transition to a closed fuel cycle ≈ 600 Pu equilibrium with CAPRA 16 SFR CAPRA B 1450 MWe + 8 EPR MOX + 14 EPR UOX Time 5 DÉCEMBRE 2020 11 th July 2018 | PAGE 16