A Methodology to Evaluate Nuclear Waste Transmutation/Fuel Cycle Systems
| dc.contributor.advisor | Dr. David N. McNelis, Committee Member | en_US |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Dr. Paul J. Turinsky, Committee Member | en_US |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Dr. Robert E. Young, Committee Member | en_US |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Dr. Man-sung Yim, Committee Chair | en_US |
| dc.contributor.author | Li, Jun | en_US |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2010-04-02T19:06:41Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2010-04-02T19:06:41Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2007-04-24 | en_US |
| dc.degree.discipline | Nuclear Engineering | en_US |
| dc.degree.level | dissertation | en_US |
| dc.degree.name | PhD | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | The nuclear waste issue is a major challenge to the nuclear energy industry. To reduce the nuclear waste impact, a number of advanced nuclear fuel cycles and transmutation schemes are being investigated. Reported herein is a methodology which was developed to evaluate and compare nuclear fuel cycles based on repository performance, proliferation resistance performance and fuel cycle cost. To evaluate the repository performance efficiently, a simplified repository performance model was developed based on the Yucca Mountain Repository. By considering the temperature limits at different locations in the repository, maximum loading is estimated for given nuclear waste characteristics. The enrivonmental impact from the maximum loaded reprository is investigated in term of projected dose and health index based on accumulated risk. A fuzzy logic based barrier method was developed to assess the proliferation resistance of three different nuclear fuel cycles. This model gives quantitative proliferation resistance information from the beginning to the end of a full fuel cycle. A simple fuel cycle cost model was also used. Based on assumed nonproliferation charges, an adjusted fuel cycle cost was evaluated which included the impact from repository and proliferation resistance performance to the overall fuel cycle cost. A case study investigates the three fuel cycles: PWR-OT (Pressurized Water Reactor-Once Through), MOX (Mixed Oxide) and DUPIC (Direct Use of spent PWR fuel in CANDU). The PWR-OT cycle provides the highest level of proliferation resistance and lowest fuel cycle cost while the DUPIC cycle provides for maximum repository loading (based on the total electricity generated). The adjusted fuel cycle cost was found to be an inadequate means of combining repository impact, proliferation resistance, and cost to affect fuel cycle selection decisions. An alternative method of using an adjusted total electricity generation cost is presented. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.other | etd-03262006-164116 | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/resolver/1840.16/5049 | |
| dc.rights | I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to NC State University or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. | en_US |
| dc.subject | fuel cycle cost | en_US |
| dc.subject | fuzzy logic | en_US |
| dc.subject | nuclear fuel cycle | en_US |
| dc.subject | repository performance | en_US |
| dc.subject | proliferation resistance | en_US |
| dc.title | A Methodology to Evaluate Nuclear Waste Transmutation/Fuel Cycle Systems | en_US |
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