Variants of the perspective closed fuel cycle, based on Regenerated Mixture – Technology, combining use of thermal and fast reactors

Highlights: • Perspective closed fuel cycle with fissile from material in blanket of fast reactors. • Raw material is depleted uranium or thorium. • Fissile material is ²³³U or Pu. • 4 Fuel types suggested for use in thermal reactors. - Abstract: In the traditional closed fuel cycle, based on REMIX-technology (REgenerated MIXture of U and Pu oxides) the fuel composition is produced on the basis of a uranium and plutonium mixture from depleted Light Water Reactor (LWR) fuel and additional natural uranium. In this case, there is some saving in the amount of natural uranium used. Here variants are considered of the perspective closed fuel cycle in which fissile feed materials for fuel manufacture is produced in the blankets of fast breeder reactors. The fissile material is ²³³U or Pu. The raw material is depleted uranium from the stocks of enrichment factories, or thorium. Natural uranium is not used in this case. The minimum feed material required for the REMIX technology in a closed fuel cycle was determined through calculations of different types of fissile and raw materials, with different cycle lengths and fuel-water ratios.