An estimation of the spent fuel inventory for the fuel cycle scenarios with a low nuclear demand growth rate

Recently, many studies have been performed as the advanced fuel cycles such as the DUPIC (Direct Use of Spent PWR Fuel in CANDU Reactors), KALIMER (Korea Advanced Liquid Metal Reactor), and HYPER (Hybrid Power Extraction Reactor). In this study, the symbiotic fuel cycle scenarios between once-through and advanced fuel cycles are analyzed. In the once-through cycle, the nuclear power is expected to grow from 13.716 GWe in 2000 to 25.2 GWe in 2015 based on a nuclear power plant construction plan. From the year 2016 to 2100, the growth rate of nuclear power was assumed to be 0%. According to the nuclear demand, the number of operating PWRs increases with time and becomes ∼25 in 2100 for the reactor power of 1.0 GWe, while the number of CANDU reactors becomes zero after 2030. The total SF will be 67 kt in the year 2100. After 2040, the CANDU SF remains constant at ∼12kt. The total amount of U, Pu, MA and FP in SF will be 62.9, 0.8, 0.09 and 3.5kt, respectively. The DUPIC cycle is assumed to be adopted through the life extension of the current CANDU reactors