The methods of expenditure distribution for nuclear fuel regeneration

The methods of expenditure distribution when extracting one, two or three components from irradiated nuclear fuel are suggested. Approximate expenditure values for plutonium extraction from irradiated nuclear fuel of fast and thermal reactors are determined. Cost estimation of plutonium, extracted from irradiated fuel is given for the case when uranium and plutonium are the main products in regeneration of plutonium from fuel elements of thermal reactors upon slag accumulation σsub(slag)=14 kg/t and its repeated utilization in the same reactors are profitable with the cost of chemical reprocessing up to 200 dol./kg fuel. With increasing of slag accumulation from 13 to 42 kg/t, the permissible value of expenditures per chemical reprocessing amounts to 300 dol./kg fuel. Chemical reprocessing of fast reactor fuel is profitable for all considered regeneration expenditures and the cost of extracted plutonium is by a factor of three below that of thermal reactors