Commercial Potential of the Dual-Component Nuclear Power System

The issue of the constantly growing volume of the Spent Nuclear Fuel has turned into a serious impediment for the Nuclear Industry development. The matter of solving this problem is the key factor for the creation of the sustainable Nuclear Power System. The most promising model for such a system now is the Dual-Component Nuclear Power System (DCNPS) which embodies both thermal neutron and fast neutron reactors. Nuclear Fuel Cycle in DCNPS is closed and self-sustained, not depending on a materialistic point of view: DCNRS could feed itself by breeding plutonium. Coupled with the thermal neutron reactors (standard PWR) and fast breeders (e.g. BN-1200) DCNRS' nuclear fuel cycle also includes spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant with a capacity to prepare radioactive waste for disposal, and U-Pu fuel fabrication facility. Such a system has unique advantages in ecology area (reduction of the natural uranium consumption, decrease of SNF amount), economics (cost reduction and effectiveness increase for the nuclear fuel cycle) and non-proliferation (plutonium utilization, control easing). The main commercial peculiarity of the DCNRS is an opportunity to perform a form of leasing both for traditional uranium and uranium-plutonium nuclear fuel. The report describes the principles of the DCNRS' nuclear fuel cycle and explains why and where it could be beneficial. (author)