Most interesting thing for me is why US nearly banned all research on fast-neutron reactors (breeders). Looks like a treason to me.
Shortly, fast-neutron reactor fuel is depleted fuel from regular reactors. And fast-neutron reactor waste is a fuel for regular reactors. That way you could utilise more than 30% of stored energy from uranium ore, instead of 3% in one-way fuel cycle.
To close fuel cycle you need 1 fast-neutron reactor for approx. 10 regular ones. In the end you get much less harmful waste with short-living isotopes that have to be hold in storage for few years only to become harmless. Aside of that, this waste is a source of very rare elements, like technetium or extremely rare rare-earth metals.
In Russia there are 2 commercial fast-neutron reactors on Beloyarsk NPP that work on nuclear waste from other NPPs and provide heat and electricity to Ekaterinburg region. There plans to build more to completely close local nuclear fuel cycle and use foreign nuclear waste as fuel. And as a result get not only electricity, but also new fuel for regular NPPs. Just think a little - west wil give us nuclear fuel and pay us for taking it. IDK, looks like very interesting business, isn't it?
Why other countries that own advanced nuclear tech like France or US just abandoned that ultimate stuff years ago, despite relatively good results? France even had a most powerful fast-neutron reactor in the world, but ran it only in test mode and despite good and stable results it was suddenly shut down and disassembled 1998. Old small one, working from 1972 again only in testing mode was closed in 2009. And all research in that direction was stopped. US closed two unfinished projects of fast-neutron reactors without waiting any results.
Looks like some insanity, really. Especially when at the same time, same countries cry about nuclear waste problem.
Most interesting thing for me is why US nearly banned all research on fast-neutron reactors (breeders). Looks like a treason to me.
Shortly, fast-neutron reactor fuel is depleted fuel from regular reactors. And fast-neutron reactor waste is a fuel for regular reactors. That way you could utilise more than 30% of stored energy from uranium ore, instead of 3% in one-way fuel cycle. To close fuel cycle you need 1 fast-neutron reactor for approx. 10 regular ones. In the end you get much less harmful waste with short-living isotopes that have to be hold in storage for few years only to become harmless. Aside of that, this waste is a source of very rare elements, like technetium or extremely rare rare-earth metals.
In Russia there are 2 commercial fast-neutron reactors on Beloyarsk NPP that work on nuclear waste from other NPPs and provide heat and electricity to Ekaterinburg region. There plans to build more to completely close local nuclear fuel cycle and use foreign nuclear waste as fuel. And as a result get not only electricity, but also new fuel for regular NPPs. Just think a little - west wil give us nuclear fuel and pay us for taking it. IDK, looks like very interesting business, isn't it?
Why other countries that own advanced nuclear tech like France or US just abandoned that ultimate stuff years ago, despite relatively good results? France even had a most powerful fast-neutron reactor in the world, but ran it only in test mode and despite good and stable results it was suddenly shut down and disassembled 1998. Old small one, working from 1972 again only in testing mode was closed in 2009. And all research in that direction was stopped. US closed two unfinished projects of fast-neutron reactors without waiting any results.
Looks like some insanity, really. Especially when at the same time, same countries cry about nuclear waste problem.