The NEA organised the fifteenth information exchange meeting on actinide and fission product partitioning and transmutation (P&T). For the first time, the meeting was held in the United Kingdom in Manchester, UK from 30 September-3 October 2018, hosted by the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) in co‑operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Background
Advanced nuclear fuel cycles to improve the safety, sustainability and economics of nuclear energy are under development internationally. P&T is one the candidate technologies to help reduce the heat, radiotoxicity and volume of radioactive waste. Recent developments indicate the need for embedding P&T strategies into advanced fuel cycles considering both waste management and economic issues.
In order to give experts a forum to present and discuss state-of-the-art developments in the field of P&T and advanced nuclear fuel cycles, the NEA has been organising biennial information exchange meetings on actinide and fission product partitioning and transmutation since 1990.
Scope
The meeting covered scientific, as well as strategic/policy developments in the field of P&T and advanced nuclear fuel cycles, such as:
national nuclear fuel cycle strategies and scenarios analysis;
the role of advanced nuclear fuel cycles and P&T and their potential evolution in the future nuclear energy mix;
impact of P&T and advanced nuclear fuel cycles on geological disposal, economics, safeguards, etc.
advances in pyro and aqueous separation processes;
P&T and advanced fuel cycles specific technology requirements: materials, spallation targets, coolants, etc.;
transmutation physics, experiments and nuclear data measurements, evaluation and validation;
transmutation systems (advanced reactors and accelerator-driven systems, etc.): design, flexibility, performance and safety;
advanced fuels fabrication, handling and transportation;
multi-physics and multi-scale modelling, simulation, novel theories, benchmark experiments and instrumentation, cost estimation of deploying P&T and advanced fuel cycles.
innovative utilisations of actinides and fission products.
Sessions
The meeting was divided in eight different sessions:
International and national programs: overview of national programmes in the field of P&T and advanced fuel cycles and of activities carried out in international organisations.
Fuel cycle strategies and scenarios: scenarios analysis: including cost estimation of deploying P&T and advanced fuel cycles.
Transmutation sytems (advanced reactors and accelerator-driven systems): coolants, physics, infrastructures, design and technology, flexibility, performance and safety.
Modeling and data: basic nuclear materials and structural data, multiphysics and multiscale modelling, simulation, novel theories, benchmark experiments and instrumentation.
Advanced fuels for transmutation and multirecycling: advanced fuels fabrication, handling and transportation, irradiation, characterisation, performance, PIE.
Advanced nuclear fuel recycling: aqueous and pyro separation processes for advanced reprocessing and minor actinide partitioning.
Waste management for future nuclear fuel cycles: impact of P&T and advanced nuclear fuel cycles on geological disposal, economics, safeguards, advanced waste forms, waste management strategies (including secondary wastes).
Innovative utilisations of actinides and fission products: other uses of products or waste materials from advanced fuel cycles; isotopes for space power or medical use; critical resources; etc.
Programme
The meeting consisted of a plenary session, followed by technical sessions and a poster session that covered the technical subjects in the scope.
At the summary session, reviews and findings of each technical session were presented by the session chairs.
The poster session was held on Monday, 1 October (poster size A0).