nuclear fuel cycle overview - division on earth...

Overview of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences Committee forAnalysis of Cancer Risks in Populations near Nuclear Facilities

John M. Pelchat, Senior Fuel Facility InspectorU.S. NRC Region II

Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences 2June 2011

Outline■ Nuclear Fuel Cycle & Major Facilities

■ Federal Laws & NRC Regulations


Applicable LawsAtomic Energy Act

Energy Reorganization Act

Nuclear Waste Policy Act

Energy Policy Act


Mission of the NRC

■ Ensure adequate protection of public health and safety.

■ Promote the common defense and security.■ Protect the environment.

Fuel Cycle Facility Regulations in General

Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations(10 CFR)Facilities are very different from one another and are covered by different parts: 10 CFR, Parts 40, 70, 76All facilities must comply with radiation protection standards, including public dose limits in 10 CFR 20



Nuclear Fuel Cycle


Steps of the Fuel Cycle■ Mining of the uranium ore

■ Milling to remove rock & refine

■ Conversion to UF6

■ Enrichment of 235U

■ Fuel Fabrication

■ Reactor Use (Fuel Burn)

■ Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel

■ De-conversion of depleted U


Mining■ Where it all begins

Open pit and deep mines – uranium oxides in oresIn-situ Leach (ISL) method – uranium in solution

■ Most U.S. uranium is imported

■ Dominant radiation hazards fromradon and progeny

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pichblende.jpg


Milling■ Refining and concentrating the uranium

■ Input: rock/concentrate + chemicals

■ Product: yellowcake (U3O8)Not always yellowGray and brown common too

■ Most domestic mills now are closed

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LEUPowder.jpg


Conversion■ Regulated under 10 CFR 40

■ Single U.S. facility - Metropolis, IL

■ Input: yellowcake in 55-gallon drums

■ Output: UF6 in 14-ton cylinders

■ Dry Conversion Process

■ Dominant chemical hazard: hydrogen fluoride


Enrichment■ Boosting concentration of 235U vs. 238U (0.71% → 5%)

Input: UF6 at natural enrichment (0.7% 235U) Product: Low-Enriched UF6

(3-5% 235U)Byproduct: Depleted U (0.2% 235U)

■ Gaseous diffusion plants:Paducah GDP in Paducah, KY (operating)Portsmouth GDP in Piketon, OH (in cold shutdown)


Enrichment■ Gas centrifuge plants:

USEC – Piketon OHLES – Eunice, NM AREVA – Eagle Rock FacilityBonneville County, ID

■ Laser enrichment facility – GE Hitachi in Wilmington, NC

■ Deconversion of depleted Uranium --International Isotopes in Hobbs, NM


Fuel Fabrication■ To produce low-enriched uranium

packaged as fuel

■ Input: Low-enriched UF6 in 30-B Cylinders (2.5 tons)

■ Product: Uranium dioxide (UO2) ceramic pellets in fuel assemblies, 4 - 5% assay typically

■ 3 U.S. commercial (LEU) fuel fabrication facilities currently operating


High-Enriched Uranium (HEU)■ HEU enrichment typically

involves > 90 wt % 235U

■ NRC licenses two HEU fuel facilities

■ Support naval nuclear propulsion program and research reactors

■ No current enrichment program for HEU


The Rest of the Fuel Cycle■ Mixed (U+Pu) Oxide (MOX) fuel

MOX fuel fabrication facility being constructed

Test assemblies “burned” inan existing commercial light-water reactor

Major U.S. Fuel Cycle Facilities


Licensee/Facility Location Type

AREVA NP, Inc. (Decommissioning) Lynchburg, VA Uranium Fuel Fabrication

AREVA NP, Inc. Richland, WA Uranium Fuel Fabrication

Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Owners Group BWX Technologies Nuclear Products Division

Lynchburg, VA Uranium Fuel Fabrication

Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas, LLC Wilmington, NC Uranium Fuel Fabrication

Honeywell International, Inc. Metropolis, IL Uranium Hexafluoride Production (Conversion)

Louisiana Energy Services National Enrichment Facility (begun initial operations, construction continues)

Eunice, NM Gas Centrifuge Uranium Enrichment

Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. Erwin, TN Uranium Fuel Fabrication

Shaw AREVA MOX Services , LLC Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (in construction)

Aiken, SC Mixed-Oxide Fuel Fabrication

U.S. Enrichment Corporation Paducah GDP

Paducah, KY Gaseous Diffusion Uranium Enrichment

U.S. Enrichment Corporation Portsmouth GDP (cold shutdown)

Piketon, OH Gaseous Diffusion Uranium Enrichment

USEC Lead Cascade and American Centrifuge Plant (under construction)

Piketon, OH Gas Centrifuge Uranium Enrichment

Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility

Columbia, SC Uranium Fuel Fabrication

Part 40 Facilities Effluent ReportingApplicable FCFs: Honeywell MTW (40-3392)Reporting Frequency: Semiannually per 10 CFR 40.65Sample Facility: Honeywell MTW (6 mo)Typical Gas Effluents: Typical Liquid Effluents:

Uranium (Nat.) 10-2 Ci 10-1 Ci226Ra 10-5 Ci 10-3 Ci230Th 10-4 Ci 10-3 Ci

Example Reports in ADAMS: ML102460374; ML100630663

18June 2011 Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences

Part 70 Facilities Effluent ReportingApplicable FCFs: AREVA NP Lynchburg (70-1201), AREVA Richland (70-1257), B&WNOG Lynchburg (70-1113); GNF Wilmington (70-1113; 70-7016); LES Eunice (70-3103); NFS Erwin (70-3098); USEC ACP Portsmouth (70-7004); WEC Columbia (70-1151)Reporting Frequency: Semiannually per 10 CFR 70.59Sample Facility: GNF (6 mo)Typical Gas Effluents: Typical Liquid Effluents:

234U 10-6 Ci 10-2 Ci235U 10-7 Ci 10-4 Ci236U 10-8 Ci 10-5 Ci238U 10-7 Ci 10-3 Ci

Example Reports in ADAMS: ML110420257; ML10238022619June 2011 Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences

Part 76 Facilities Effluent Reporting


Applicable FCFs: USEC: Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (70-7001), Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (70-7002)Reporting Frequency: Upon renewal per 10 CFR 76.35 (~ every 5 years)Sample Facility: USEC: Paducah GDP

Typical Gas Effluents: Typical Liquid Effluents: U: 1.5 x 10-2 Ci/y 10 ug/l U (Nat.) 235U 0.2 wt. %, 99Tc 1 x 10-2 Ci/y 10 pCi/l230Th: 3 x 10-5 Ci/y 0.1 pCi/l237Np: 2 x 10-4 Ci/y 0.1 pCi/l239/240Pu: 1 x 10-6 Ci/y 0.1 pCi/l

Example Reports in ADAMS: ML081070229; ML071490110; ML070610332

QUESTIONS


nuclear fuel cycle overview - division on earth...

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