The V.S.O.P. System Present Worth Fuel Cycle Calculation Methods and Codes KPD

The calculation of nuclear fuel cycle costs is described and two methods to evaluate financing costs are discussed. The KPD methods are based on present worth theory and all relevant equations are listed to enable a detailed comparison with other economics codes commonly in use. For each operating period all expenditures and revenues are calculated and discounted to the beginning of the period yielding the fuel cycle costs for that particular period. The method gives time dependent costs starting with the initial core and ending with the equilibrium phase. Each fuel batch handled in the in-pile and out-of-pile fuel management is treated separately. The KPD code provides a number of options to allow detailed modelling of the nuclear fuel management and the economic market, for instance a cost escalation facility has been included. Cost calculations for two typical HTRs are presented to show some of the features characterising running-in and equilibrium operating conditions. (author)