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Overview of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences Committee forAnalysis of Cancer Risks in Populations near Nuclear Facilities
John M. Pelchat, Senior Fuel Facility InspectorU.S. NRC Region II
Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences 2June 2011
Outline■ Nuclear Fuel Cycle & Major Facilities
■ Federal Laws & NRC Regulations
Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences 3June 2011
Applicable LawsAtomic Energy Act
Energy Reorganization Act
Nuclear Waste Policy Act
Energy Policy Act
Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences 4June 2011
Mission of the NRC
■ Ensure adequate protection of public health and safety.
■ Promote the common defense and security.■ Protect the environment.
Fuel Cycle Facility Regulations in General
Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations(10 CFR)Facilities are very different from one another and are covered by different parts: 10 CFR, Parts 40, 70, 76All facilities must comply with radiation protection standards, including public dose limits in 10 CFR 20
Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences 5June 2011
Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences 7June 2011
Steps of the Fuel Cycle■ Mining of the uranium ore
■ Milling to remove rock & refine
■ Conversion to UF6
■ Enrichment of 235U
■ Fuel Fabrication
■ Reactor Use (Fuel Burn)
■ Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel
■ De-conversion of depleted U
Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences 8June 2011
Mining■ Where it all begins
Open pit and deep mines – uranium oxides in oresIn-situ Leach (ISL) method – uranium in solution
■ Most U.S. uranium is imported
■ Dominant radiation hazards fromradon and progeny
Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences 9June 2011
Milling■ Refining and concentrating the uranium
■ Input: rock/concentrate + chemicals
■ Product: yellowcake (U3O8)Not always yellowGray and brown common too
■ Most domestic mills now are closed
Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences 10June 2011
Conversion■ Regulated under 10 CFR 40
■ Single U.S. facility - Metropolis, IL
■ Input: yellowcake in 55-gallon drums
■ Output: UF6 in 14-ton cylinders
■ Dry Conversion Process
■ Dominant chemical hazard: hydrogen fluoride
Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences 11June 2011
Enrichment■ Boosting concentration of 235U vs. 238U (0.71% → 5%)
Input: UF6 at natural enrichment (0.7% 235U) Product: Low-Enriched UF6
(3-5% 235U)Byproduct: Depleted U (0.2% 235U)
■ Gaseous diffusion plants:Paducah GDP in Paducah, KY (operating)Portsmouth GDP in Piketon, OH (in cold shutdown)
Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences 12June 2011
Enrichment■ Gas centrifuge plants:
USEC – Piketon OHLES – Eunice, NM AREVA – Eagle Rock FacilityBonneville County, ID
■ Laser enrichment facility – GE Hitachi in Wilmington, NC
■ Deconversion of depleted Uranium --International Isotopes in Hobbs, NM
Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences 13June 2010
Fuel Fabrication■ To produce low-enriched uranium
packaged as fuel
■ Input: Low-enriched UF6 in 30-B Cylinders (2.5 tons)
■ Product: Uranium dioxide (UO2) ceramic pellets in fuel assemblies, 4 - 5% assay typically
■ 3 U.S. commercial (LEU) fuel fabrication facilities currently operating
Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences 14June 2011
High-Enriched Uranium (HEU)■ HEU enrichment typically
involves > 90 wt % 235U
■ NRC licenses two HEU fuel facilities
■ Support naval nuclear propulsion program and research reactors
■ No current enrichment program for HEU
Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences 15June 2010
The Rest of the Fuel Cycle■ Mixed (U+Pu) Oxide (MOX) fuel
MOX fuel fabrication facility being constructed
Test assemblies “burned” inan existing commercial light-water reactor
Major U.S. Fuel Cycle Facilities
Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences 17June 2011
Licensee/Facility Location Type
AREVA NP, Inc. (Decommissioning) Lynchburg, VA Uranium Fuel Fabrication
AREVA NP, Inc. Richland, WA Uranium Fuel Fabrication
Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Owners Group BWX Technologies Nuclear Products Division
Lynchburg, VA Uranium Fuel Fabrication
Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas, LLC Wilmington, NC Uranium Fuel Fabrication
Honeywell International, Inc. Metropolis, IL Uranium Hexafluoride Production (Conversion)
Louisiana Energy Services National Enrichment Facility (begun initial operations, construction continues)
Eunice, NM Gas Centrifuge Uranium Enrichment
Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. Erwin, TN Uranium Fuel Fabrication
Shaw AREVA MOX Services , LLC Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (in construction)
Aiken, SC Mixed-Oxide Fuel Fabrication
U.S. Enrichment Corporation Paducah GDP
Paducah, KY Gaseous Diffusion Uranium Enrichment
U.S. Enrichment Corporation Portsmouth GDP (cold shutdown)
Piketon, OH Gaseous Diffusion Uranium Enrichment
USEC Lead Cascade and American Centrifuge Plant (under construction)
Piketon, OH Gas Centrifuge Uranium Enrichment
Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility
Columbia, SC Uranium Fuel Fabrication
Part 40 Facilities Effluent ReportingApplicable FCFs: Honeywell MTW (40-3392)Reporting Frequency: Semiannually per 10 CFR 40.65Sample Facility: Honeywell MTW (6 mo)Typical Gas Effluents: Typical Liquid Effluents:
Uranium (Nat.) 10-2 Ci 10-1 Ci226Ra 10-5 Ci 10-3 Ci230Th 10-4 Ci 10-3 Ci
Example Reports in ADAMS: ML102460374; ML100630663
18June 2011 Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences
Part 70 Facilities Effluent ReportingApplicable FCFs: AREVA NP Lynchburg (70-1201), AREVA Richland (70-1257), B&WNOG Lynchburg (70-1113); GNF Wilmington (70-1113; 70-7016); LES Eunice (70-3103); NFS Erwin (70-3098); USEC ACP Portsmouth (70-7004); WEC Columbia (70-1151)Reporting Frequency: Semiannually per 10 CFR 70.59Sample Facility: GNF (6 mo)Typical Gas Effluents: Typical Liquid Effluents:
234U 10-6 Ci 10-2 Ci235U 10-7 Ci 10-4 Ci236U 10-8 Ci 10-5 Ci238U 10-7 Ci 10-3 Ci
Example Reports in ADAMS: ML110420257; ML10238022619June 2011 Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences
Part 76 Facilities Effluent Reporting
20June 2011 Presentation to the National Academy of Sciences
Applicable FCFs: USEC: Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (70-7001), Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (70-7002)Reporting Frequency: Upon renewal per 10 CFR 76.35 (~ every 5 years)Sample Facility: USEC: Paducah GDP
Typical Gas Effluents: Typical Liquid Effluents: U: 1.5 x 10-2 Ci/y 10 ug/l U (Nat.) 235U 0.2 wt. %, 99Tc 1 x 10-2 Ci/y 10 pCi/l230Th: 3 x 10-5 Ci/y 0.1 pCi/l237Np: 2 x 10-4 Ci/y 0.1 pCi/l239/240Pu: 1 x 10-6 Ci/y 0.1 pCi/l
Example Reports in ADAMS: ML081070229; ML071490110; ML070610332
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