PNC program on fuel recycle technology development looking toward the 21st century

The PNC has been pursuing the development of FBR and its fuel cycle technology for the past three decades, and firm technological bases and experiences have been building up for their optimization looking toward the future industrialization. In this paper, the fuel recycle technology has been re-examined in the light of today's main obstacles against its deployment as a future energy option. As a result, a drastically improved recycle concept has been proposed as Advanced Fuel Recycle System, which is based on well-experienced MOX-aqueous reprocessing techniques, but is greatly improved and optimized from the aspects of economy, proliferation resistivity, and easing the waste problems. The R and D program at the PNC is now being revised to focus on the realization of the Advanced Fuel Recycle System in early decade of the 21st century. (author)