Justification of the economic and radiological advantages of a closed nuclear cycle with fast neutron reactors in view of IAEA radiation safety standards and equalization of carcinogenicity of the radioactive waste and natural uranium raw materials

«Radiation and Risk», 2023, vol. 32, No. 4, pp.5-13

DOI: 10.21870/0131-3878-2023-32-4-5-13

Authors

Ivanov V.K. – Scientific Advisor of NRER, Chairman of RSCRP, Corr. Member of RAS, D. Sc., Tech.
Chekin S.Yu. – Head of Lab. Contacts: 4 Korolyov str., Obninsk, Kaluga region, Russia, 249035. Tel.: (484) 399-30-79; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Menyajlo A.N. – Lead. Researcher, C. Sc., Biol.; A. Tsyb MRRC.
Lopatkin A.V. – Research Advisor for RE, D. Sc., Tech.
Tolstoukhov D.A. – Chief Economist, C. Sc., Tech.
Panov S.A. – Deputy Head of Dep.
Spirin E.V. – Chief Researcher of Dep. of the Chief Radioecologist, Project PRORYV, D. Sc., Biol.
Solomatin V.M. – Head of Dep. of the Chief Radioecologist, Project PRORYV, C. Sc., Biol.
Kashirsky A.A. – Head of Analytical Dep. JSC PRORYV.
¹ A. Tsyb MRRC, Obninsk
² Joint Stock Company PRORYV, Moscow

Abstract

Economic and radiological advantages of the closed nuclear fuel cycle with fast neutron reactors in view of radiological equivalence, i.e. the equalization of carcinogenicity of radioactive waste and the natural uranium ore materials are considered in the paper. Potential cancer risks of the spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from the WWER-1000 reactor and radioactive waste from the BR-1200 reactor generating 1 GW of electric power per year have been estimated. It is assumed that the SNF from WWER-1000 reactor will be sent to 10 or 30-year storage. In the closed nuclear fuel cycle radioactive wastes, the products of SNF reprocessing, consisting of 0.1% of Sr, Cs, Tc, I, U, Np, Pu, Am, Cm of their content in SNF and all other radionuclides are disposed. Over a period of 10,000 years, the total radiation detriment from SNF from the WWER-1000 reactor is more than 132 times higher than the radiation detriment from radioactive waste from the BR-1200 reactor. The time of radiological equivalence achievement was evaluated. It is assumed that if WWER-1000 and BR-1000 generate 1 GW of electricity per year, radiological equivalence of carcinogenicity of radioactive waste (BR-1200 reactor) and natural uranium ore material will be achieved in 100 years of radioactive waste storage. The equivalence of carcinogenicity of SNF storage and natural uranium ore materials will be achieved after 15,600 years storage. When disposing of spent fuel from a WWER-1000 reactor without achieving radiological equivalence, socio-economic losses due to excess mortality from cancer are estimated at 129 billion rubles/GWyear.

Key words
radiological equivalence of radioactive waste and natural uranium ore materials; carcinogenicity of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from WWER-1000 and radioactive waste from BR-1200; time to achieve radiological equivalence between SNF from WWER-1000 and radioactive waste from BR-1200; costs associated with achieving the radiological equivalence of SNF from the WWER-1000 reactor; loss of revenue due to an increase in the mortality of cancer.

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