1. 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

2. 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

3. 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 :
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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

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 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
0,6 100 % 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

11. 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
0,6 100 % 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

12. 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

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)
Etablissement public à caractère industriel et commercial | R.C.S Paris B
DEN DER SPRC
11th July 2018
24 février 2019

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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