Requirements and Long-term Development Plan for Fast-spectrum Transmutation Fuels in the U.s

An objective of the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative in the United States is to develop technologies for transmutation of transuranic elements currently in spent light water reactor fuel. The advantages of fast-spectrum reactors, including accelerator-driven systems, are recognised. Because low-to-zero conversion-ratio designs are desired, fuels with little or no fertile uranium are required. Based upon institutional experience with fast reactor fuels, a set of requirements for the new fuels and a conceptual long-term development plan have been drafted to guide the development process. Many of the proposed requirements are similar to those that would be used for a sodium-cooled fast reactor; although such requirements are tentative, they provide a useful basis for initiation of the programme. The long-term development plan indicates that demonstration of a new fuel technology could be accomplished in less than 25 years, but successful technology development and convenient access to test facilities is assumed.