On the use of plutonium burning fast reactors to reduce PWR irradiated assemblies’ stockpile 3rd Workshop on dynamic fuel cycle Timothée Kooyman, DEN,DR,SPRC,LE2C 11th July 2018 24 février 2019 11th July 2018

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. This is done by significantly modifying the core design. Two levels of modification of were considered here, with increasing Pu consumption. CFV breeder core (3.6 GW) : breeding gain > 0 CAPRA B1 core (3.6 GW) : breeding gain ≈ -0,2 CAPRA D core (3 GW) : breeding gain ≈ -0,5 24 février 2019 11th July 2018

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 : 2065-2090 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 24 février 2019 11th July 2018

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. 24 février 2019 11th July 2018

Reprocessing and manufacturing requirements This reduction requires an increase in manufacturing and reprocessing capabilities due to shorter residence times in the CAPRA cores 24 février 2019 11th July 2018

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. 24 février 2019 11th July 2018

Overall impact on plutonium inventory What if we try to stabilize the plutonium inventory using CAPRA reactors ? 24 février 2019 11th July 2018

Pu inventory in the fuel cycle (t) EPRTM-UOX – SFR CAPRA SYMBIOTIC FLEET Plutonium isotopic vector is characterized by its quality (ratio of 239Pu + 241Pu on total Pu), The balance equation of the fuel cycle is analytically solved. Between 1 and 2 CAPRA cores are required to consume the Pu production of an EPR.   CAPRA B CAPRA D Equilibrium quality 0,44 0,39 EPRTM (%) 0,56 0,71 SFR (%) 0,29 For a 58 GWe fleet EPRTM 21 27 SFR 18 13 Pu inventory by SFR (t) 33 44 Pu inventory in the fuel cycle (t) 594 572 24 février 2019 11th July 2018

Pu inventory in the fuel cycle (t) 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 CAPRA D Equilibrium quality 0,45 0,34 Fraction of EPRTM UOX 0,38 0,46 Fraction of EPRTM MOX 0,22 0,27 Fraction of SFR 0,40 0,26 For a 58 GWe fleet EPR UOX 14 18 EPR MOX 8 10 SFR 16 12 Pu inventory by SFR (t) 34 45 Pu inventory in the fuel cycle (t) 623 643 24 février 2019 11th July 2018

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 B1 CAPRA D Palier C (2014) EPR 100 % MOX Fraction of EPRTM UOX 0,56 0,71 0,38 0,46 0.5 Fraction of EPRTM 30 % MOX 0,22 0,27 0,6 (3 @ 100 % MOX) 0.25 (100 % MOX) Fraction of SFR 0,44 0,29 0,4 0,26 0.25 Pu inventory (t) 594 572 623 643 ≈ 600 > 645 24 février 2019 11th July 2018

Fraction of SFR (Number of SFRs) 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 B1 CAPRA D Palier C (2014) EPR 100 % MOX Fraction of EPRTM UOX 0,56 0,71 0,38 0,46 0.5 Fraction of EPRTM 30 % MOX 0,22 0,27 0,6 (3 @ 100 % MOX) 0.25 (100 % MOX) Fraction of SFR (Number of SFRs) 0,44 (18) 0,29 (14) 0,4 (16) 0,26 (13) 0.25 (12) 24 février 2019 11th July 2018

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 ?) 24 février 2019 11th July 2018

Thanks for your attention 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 Etablissement public à caractère industriel et commercial | R.C.S Paris B 775 685 019 DEN DER SPRC 11th July 2018 24 février 2019

Closing the fuel cycle after CAPRA deployment Plutonium mass in the fuel cycle (t) ≈1200 t Full SFR fleet : closed fuel cycle 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 24 février 2019 11th July 2018

Closing the fuel cycle after CAPRA deployment Plutonium mass in the fuel cycle (t) ≈1200 t Full SFR fleet : closed fuel cycle 2. Tuning the SFRs design to achieve stabilization at a given level 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 24 février 2019 11th July 2018

Closing the fuel cycle after CAPRA deployment Plutonium mass in the fuel cycle (t) ≈1200 t Full SFR fleet : closed fuel cycle 2. Tuning the SFRs design to achieve stabilization at a given level 1. Stabilisation of the inventory by deployment of CAPRA 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 24 février 2019 11th July 2018