1. COSI Evaluation of non-nuclear material balance with the COSI software
CEA SPRC | Philippe MIRANDA
3rd Technical Workshop on Fuel Cycle Simulation
( juillet 2018)
CEA | 18 septembre 2013

2. Overview Definitions : Emerging technologies raise up.
So, a new demand appeared for some material called critical.
Critical materials are defined according to EU criteria.
A new developpement in COSI (CEA scenario software) evaluates the non-fissile material balance.
Definitions :
In different studies and policies, the term "strategic" is often used instead of "critical" raw materials.
The definitions used reveal that :
the materials for military use are called “strategic",
the materials for which a threat to the supply could imply harm to the national economy are considered "critical".
Therefore, the term "critical" will be used in this report.
3rd Technical Workshop on Fuel Cycle Simulation CEA | 9-11 july 2018

3. Methodology
The concept of criticality consider the supply risk vs economic importance :
the "supply risk" takes into account :
the political and economic stability of the producing countries,
the level of concentration of production,
the potential for substitution
the rate of recycling.
the protection measures taken by producing countries (restrictions, quotas …).
the “economic importance” aims at providing insight into the importance of a material for the EU economy in terms of end-use applications and the value added (VA) of EU manufacturing sectors.
This means that the raw material is labeled "critical" when the risks of supply shortages and their impact on the economy are higher than most other commodities.
3rd Technical Workshop on Fuel Cycle Simulation CEA | 9-11 july 2018

4. First Evaluation 2010
« Critical raw materials for the EU » (30 July 2010)
In this first report, 14 raw materials are labeled "critical" :
Antimony
Indium
Beryllium
Magnesium
Cobalt
Niobium
Fluorspar
PGMs (Platinum Group Metals)
Gallium
Rare earths
Germanium
Tantalum
Graphite
Tungsten
3rd Technical Workshop on Fuel Cycle Simulation CEA | 9-11 july 2018

5. First Evaluation 2010
3rd Technical Workshop on Fuel Cycle Simulation CEA | 9-11 july 2018
| PAGE 5

6. Next Evaluations 2014/2017
The Commission has undertaken to revise and update, at least every three years, this list of critical raw materials for the European Union :
In 2014, tantalum was removed from the list (due to a lower risk of supply shortage). Six new raw materials have been added :
borates,
chromium,
coking coal,
magnesite,
phosphate rock
silicon metal.
In 2017, the new list includes nine new materials :
baryte,
bismuth,
hafnium,
helium,
natural rubber,
phosphorus,
scandium,
tantalum,
vanadium
3rd Technical Workshop on Fuel Cycle Simulation CEA | 9-11 july 2018

7. Critical Matrix 2017 Evaluations 2013/2017
3rd Technical Workshop on Fuel Cycle Simulation CEA | 9-11 july 2018

8. Exemples of Risk Analysis
Risk analysis for Magnesium :
EU imports nearly 47% of the world's magnesium production.
China is by far the largest producer of magnesium in the world, with nearly 93% of global production
China, Russia and South Africa impose trade restrictions
Recycling opportunities for magnesium are limited
Risk analysis for Rare Earths :
China accounted for 97% of global production in In addition, China applies export restrictions and quotas for rare earths.
New mining projects are underway in other countries, but in addition to the time required to (re) open a mine for production, rare earth mining is particularly complex.
Although rare earth recovery processes have been developed, none of them are currently commercially viable.
For most applications, rare earth substitutes are available, but with a loss of performance.
3rd Technical Workshop on Fuel Cycle Simulation CEA | 9-11 july 2018

9. COSI Method
Use the fuel balance to evaluate the number of each kind of irradiated assemblies, for each reactor.
Knowing the composition of each assembly, the structure materials balance is assessed for the whole reactor lifetime and the complete french fleet.
Analyse the mass balance : criticality ?
3rd Technical Workshop on Fuel Cycle Simulation CEA | 9-11 july 2018
Technical Workshop July 2018

10. Structure materials in the French fleet (steels) 1977  2090 :
Results : mass balance
Structure materials in the French fleet (steels) 1977  2090 :
PWR
AISI 302
445
AISI 304
695
AISI 304L
1229
AISI 308
AISI 308L
AISI 316L 69
AISI 660 40
Alliage M5
8306
Alliage X750
CF-3 16
Q12 74
Inconel 600 2
Alliage 718
365
Zy 4
11167
Total (tons)
22410
3rd Technical Workshop on Fuel Cycle Simulation CEA | 9-11 july 2018

11. Results : mass balance
Astrid demonstrator (Boron and Magnesium) 2023  2082 : Mass balance (tons) : Are these amounts critical ?
B4C-nat
B4C-48%
MgO W
118,5
17,2
175,1
2,6
3rd Technical Workshop on Fuel Cycle Simulation CEA | 9-11 july 2018

12. Conclusions - Perspectives
For the first time, we use the software COSI, intended to fuel cycle computation, to assess a critical material balance.
Critical materials are very dependent on the geopolitical and industrial situations.
The critical materials list must be updated regularly.
This work enables the analysis of supply problems (resources, costs, production capacity, transformation), economic analysis of expenses and cost optimization.
3rd Technical Workshop on Fuel Cycle Simulation CEA | 9-11 july 2018
| PAGE 12

13. Thanks for your attention
Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
Centre de Cadarache | Saint Paul Lez Durance Cedex
T. +33 (0) | F. +33 (0)
Etablissement public à caractère industriel et commercial | RCS Paris B
DEN DER SPRC
CEA | 18 septembre 2013