Rebirth of Breeder Reactors to Reduce HLW Issues

[SCMasterchef]

Does anyone besides myself see a change in Presidential and Congressional opinions of the resurgence of the need for breeder reactors in this country to stymy the continuing issues with nuclear spent fuel?  The Peanut farmer did our industry no justice in shutting down the subject of the breeder at Clinch River so do you think a new political environment should reopen this subject?

[Marlin]

Not in government but clearly in the private sector in the US and by governments in India and China most visibly with Thorium breeder reactors.

[Chimera]

Not in government but clearly in the private sector in the US and by governments in India and China most visibly with Thorium breeder reactors.

Ahem . . . to quote my ultimate sea-daddy, Adm. Rickover, that would be "converter", not "breeder".  The Thorium converter at Shippingport was his response to the peanut farmer's ban on breeder reactors and reprocessing. 

[Marlin]

Ahem . . . to quote my ultimate sea-daddy, Adm. Rickover, that would be "converter", not "breeder".  The Thorium converter at Shippingport was his response to the peanut farmer's ban on breeder reactors and reprocessing. 

The Thorium reactors under development are called breeders though there is not fuel to be recovered which I guess would make them converters as well.


Thermal breeder reactor use thermal spectrum (moderated) neutrons to breed fissile uranium-233 from thorium (thorium fuel cycle). Due to the behavior of the various nuclear fuels, a thermal breeder is thought commercially feasible only with thorium fuel, which avoids the buildup of the heavier transuranics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breeder_reactor

[GLW]

Ahem . . . to quote my ultimate sea-daddy, Adm. Rickover, that would be "converter", not "breeder".  The Thorium converter at Shippingport was his response to the peanut farmer's ban on breeder reactors and reprocessing. 

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you people are everywhere,....

[SCMasterchef]

To get back to the subject matter, better phrased as breeder/reprocess reactor, the government seems to control the future discussion of this subject since the Peanut Farmer mandated the end of it.  The private sector certainly must be involved, but this would fall under the control of the government, ie. the NRC.  Why is this subject such a hands off issue for the political environment when it is such a viable solution to many of our nuclear issues?

[Marlin]

I see no movement by goverment (US) for a breeder or reprocessor at this time.

World commercial reprocessing capacity (tonnes per year)
LWR fuel   France, La Hague   1700
UK, Sellafield (THORP)   600
Russia, Ozersk (Mayak)   400
Japan (Rokkasho)   800*
Total LWR (approx)   3500
Other nuclear fuels   UK, Sellafield (Magnox)   1500
India (PHWR, 4 plants)   330
Japan, Tokai MOX   40
Total other (approx)   1870
Total civil capacity       5370
* now expected to start operation in 2014

"the Obama administration stepped back from President Bush's plans for commercial-scale reprocessing and reverted to a program focused on reprocessing-related scientific research.'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_reprocessing

[GLW]

To get back to the subject matter, better phrased as breeder/reprocess reactor, the government seems to control the future discussion of this subject since the Peanut Farmer mandated the end of it.  The private sector certainly must be involved, but this would fall under the control of the government, ie. the NRC.  Why is this subject such a hands off issue for the political environment when it is such a viable solution to many of our nuclear issues?

NIMBY,...

[Marlin]

NIMBY,...

Very Pithy for GLW, but very accurate