Research on reprocessing technologies and discussion on development direction for fuel cycle technology during transitional phase from LWR to FBR

Literature research was conducted on all kinds of nuclear fuel reprocessing technologies encompassing from commercial PREX process to developing new technologies in order to provide suitable information available for selection of reprocessing process technology applied to LWR-FBR transitional phase fuel cycle which will continue several decades from 2050. Development strategies for transitional phase fuel cycle were also investigated. Ideally, the spent MOX fuel from LWR should be reprocessed at the normal PUREX process and the technical problem must be enumerated and technical development must be started soon. Also, the spent MOX fuel from initial FBR may be treated at the PUREX process for LWR fuel by mixing the FBR fuel and LWR fuel, because not so much spent fuel will be discharged from the initial FBR reactors. If the spent fuels from LWR are treated at the reprocessing plant designed for FBR fuel, the U recovery technologies are necessary in order to reduce the mass flow at the extraction process. MA recovery may be required in future and new designed reprocessing plant must have the flexibility for appending new function such as MA recovery process or U and Pu purification process. (author)