Optimizing nuclear fuel utilization in pressurized water reactors

In consequence of the increasing fraction of electric power supplied by nuclear power plants within the framework of national and international grids, questions of optimum utilization of nuclear fuels are becoming more and more significant. The international trend and results of investigations of improving the utilization of nuclear fuels in pressurized water reactors performed at the Chair of Nuclear Power at the College for Advanced Technology at Zittau are reviewed. Problems of optimizing the fresh fuel fraction and the initial enrichment are emphasized. The order of magnitude of possible reductions of the specific power costs and the specific need for natural uranium as well as the effects on plutonium supply for fast breeder start-up are assessed taking into account the necessary engineering and technological prerequisites. Considering the significant potential for improwing nuclear fuel utilization in connection with the high technical maturity and reliability of pressurized water reactors it is to be expected that they will make an essential contribution to meeting energy needs for a longer period. (author)