Conceptual design study and evaluation of advanced fuel fabrication systems in the feasibility study on commercialized FR fuel cycle in Japan

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滑川 卓志; 川口 浩一  ; 小池 和宏; 原口 信吾; 石井 暁

Namekawa, Takashi; Kawaguchi, Koichi; Koike, Kazuhiro; Haraguchi, Shingo; Ishii, Satoru

実用化戦略調査研究における低除染TRU燃料製造システムについてプラント概念を構築し、システム評価を実施した。簡素化ペレット法は従来法の実績経験を有するため早期の実用化が期待される。ゲル化法は溶液及び顆粒として物質取扱するため微粉飛散が少ない利点がある一方、多量の工程廃液処理によるコスト増大が課題である。射出鋳造法は小規模施設での経済性に優れるが、TRU金属合金スラグ製造性の立証を要する。窒化物燃料に関しては、N-15回収再利用に関する技術開発が必要である。特に、被覆粒子燃料製造においては、コーティング及び集合体形成プロセスで更なる技術開発が求められている。

New concepts of future fabrication system for low decontaminated transuranium (TRU) fuel was designed. It is essential to establish a remote fabrication system in the hot cell, because materials with high levels of radiation and high generation of heat are handled in the system. The configuration of the present systems including aspects related to economy was clarified through the conceptual design study. Technical feasibility of each concepts is follwiong. For oxide fuels, the simplified pelletizing method has a high technical feasibility for the process, and its expected practical use is possible at early stage, because this method is based on wealth results of a conventional method. The sphere-pack method has the advantage of lesser dispersion of the fine powder due to the use of solution and granule in the process. However this system will shoulder additional cost for the liquid waste treatment process due to need dispose of a large bulk of process liquid waste. The vipack method has the possibility of economical improvement if simplification of the process can be achieved. However this system has some problems for quality assurance etc. For the casting method of metal fuel, high economical efficiency is generally expected of small-scale facilities, although verification of fabrication of the TRU alloy slug is required. For nitride fuel, technology developments for N-15 enrichment and recycling, and nitride conversion process etc. In particular, for coated particle fuel fabrication, crucial technology developments are required on coating and assembly process.