Nuclear fuel cycle science and engineering

490 Pages·2012·13.644 MB·English

by  Crossland, Ian

Uranium for Nuclear Power
Related Titles
NuclearFuelCycle ScienceandEngineering
(ISBN978-0-85709-073-7)
NuclearDecommissioning:Planning,ExecutionandInternationalExperience
(ISBN978-0-85709-115-4)
TheFutureofNuclearPower
(ISBN978-0-08044-489-5)
Woodhead Publishing Series in
Energy: Number 93
Uranium for Nuclear
Power
Resources, Mining and Transformation
to Fuel
Edited by
Ian Hore-Lacy
World Nuclear Association,
London, United Kingdom
AMSTERDAM(cid:1)BOSTON(cid:1)CAMBRIDGE(cid:1)HEIDELBERG
LONDON(cid:1)NEWYORK(cid:1)OXFORD(cid:1)PARIS(cid:1)SANDIEGO
SANFRANCISCO(cid:1)SINGAPORE(cid:1)SYDNEY(cid:1)TOKYO
WoodheadPublishingisanimprintofElsevier
WoodheadPublishingisanimprintofElsevier
TheOfficers’MessBusinessCentre,RoystonRoad,Duxford,CB224QH,UK
50HampshireStreet,5thFloor,Cambridge,MA02139,USA
TheBoulevard,LangfordLane,Kidlington,OX51GB,UK
Copyright©2016ElsevierLtd.Allrightsreserved.
Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystemortransmittedin
anyformorbyanymeanselectronic,mechanical,photocopying,recordingorotherwise
withoutthepriorwrittenpermissionofthepublisher.
PermissionsmaybesoughtdirectlyfromElsevier’sScience&TechnologyRights
DepartmentinOxford,UK:phone[phone];fax[phone];
email:[e-mail]tyourrequestonlineby
visitingtheElsevierwebsiteathttp://elsevier.com/locate/permissions,andselecting
ObtainingpermissiontouseElseviermaterial.
Notices
Noresponsibilityisassumedbythepublisherforanyinjuryand/ordamagetopersonsor
propertyasamatterofproductsliability,negligenceorotherwise,orfromanyuseor
operationofanymethods,products,instructionsorideascontainedinthematerialherein.
Becauseofrapidadvancesinthemedicalsciences,inparticular,independentverificationof
diagnosesanddrugdosagesshouldbemade.
BritishLibraryCataloguing-in-PublicationData
AcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary.
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
AcatalogrecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheLibraryofCongress.
ISBN:978-0-08-100307-7(print)
ISBN:978-0-08-100333-6(online)
ForinformationonallWoodheadPublishing
visitourwebsiteathttps://www.elsevier.com/
Publisher:JoeHayton
AcquisitionEditor:AlexWhite
EditorialProjectManager:AlexWhite
ProductionProjectManager:OmerMukthar
Designer:MarkRogers
TypesetbyMPSLimited,Chennai,India
Contents
Listofcontributors xi
WoodheadPublishingSeriesinEnergy xiii
Part I Geology, Resources and Markets: Primary Uranium 1
1 Uraniumfornuclearpower:anintroduction 3
IanHore-Lacy
1.1 Introductionandhistory 3
1.2 Energydensity,othercharacteristics 4
1.3 Resourcesituation 4
1.4 Technologicalperspective 5
1.5 Theelectromobilityfrontierandmethanol 6
1.6 Relationshipwithnonhydrorenewables 7
1.7 Safety,regulation 8
1.8 Nonpoweruses 9
1.9 Wastes,radiation,proliferation 9
1.10 Uraniuminthefuture 10
1.11 Furtherinformation 10
2 Geologyofuraniumdeposits 11
PatriceBrunetonandMichelCuney
2.1 Introduction 11
2.2 Uraniumprovinces 11
2.3 Uraniumminerals 13
2.4 Classificationofuraniumdeposits 17
2.5 TheIAEAUDEPOdatabase 33
2.6 UnconventionalresourcesanddepositsinUDEPO 34
2.7 Newuraniumdeposits(2004(cid:1)2014) 38
2.8 Futuretrends 44
Acknowledgments 46
Booksonuraniumandgeneralpublications 46
Publicationsinscientificreviews 47
Mainwebsites 48
References 48
vi Contents
3 Explorationforuranium 53
KurtKyser
3.1 Introduction 53
3.2 Uraniumandthenuclearfuelcycle 54
3.3 Driversofuraniumexploration 55
3.4 Prospectivity,explorability,andexplorationtargeting 57
3.5 Explorationtechniques 60
3.6 Criticalfactorsindepositmodels 68
3.7 Drillingandevaluation 71
3.8 Synopsis 72
References 72
4 Uraniumresources 77
RobertVance
4.1 Introduction 77
4.2 Resourcesandreserves 78
4.3 GlobaluraniumresourcesasofJanuary1,2013 85
4.4 Unconventionalresources 91
4.5 International fuelreserves 92
4.6 UnitedNationsFrameworkClassification 94
4.7 Conclusion 95
4.8 Sourcesforfurtherinformationandadvice 96
References 96
5 Theuraniummarket,supplyadjustmentsfromsecondarysources,
andenrichmentunderfeeding 99
SteveKidd
5.1 Introduction 99
5.2 Uraniumdemand 99
5.3 Uraniumsupply 106
5.4 Costsofproduction 112
5.5 Uraniumsupplyanddemandto2020andbeyond 114
5.6 Theworlduraniummarketandprices 118
5.7 Sourcesoffurtherinformationandadvice 121
References 121
Part II Mining and Alternative Fuel Sources 123
6 Uraniummining(opencutandunderground)andmilling 125
PeterH.Woods
6.1 Introduction 125
6.2 Opencutmining 126
6.3 Undergroundmining 130
6.4 Millingandextraction 135
Contents vii
6.5 Retreatmentofminetailings 145
6.6 Futuretrends 146
6.7 Sourcesoffurtherinformationandadvice 148
Acknowledgments 150
References 150
7 Introductiontouraniuminsiturecoverytechnology 157
MarkS.PelizzaandCraigS.Bartels
7.1 Generaldescription 157
7.2 Geologyandhydrogeologicconditions 170
7.3 Environmentalevaluations 180
7.4 Facilities 182
7.5 Processes 192
7.6 Wastemanagement 201
7.7 Welldrilling,installation,completion,andoperation 203
7.8 Reclamation 209
References 210
8 Nuclearfuelfromsecondarysuppliesofuraniumandplutonium 215
JeffCombs
8.1 Introduction 215
8.2 Commercialinventoriesofnaturalandenricheduranium 218
8.3 Othernaturalandenrichedinventories 222
8.4 HEUsupplies 225
8.5 Recycleduraniumandplutonium 228
8.6 Futureofrecycleduraniumandplutonium 229
8.7 Enrichmentoftailsmaterial 230
8.8 Underfeeding 234
8.9 ImplicationsofgenerationIVnuclearreactors 235
8.10 Summary:Thedecliningbutcontinuingroleofsecondary
supplies 236
9 Productionofbyproducturaniumanduraniumfrom
unconventionalresources 239
IanHore-Lacy
9.1 Introduction 239
9.2 Uraniumfromphosphatedeposits 239
9.3 Processingphosphates 241
9.4 Productionpotential 242
9.5 Uraniumfromrareearthsdeposits 243
9.6 Uraniumfromblackshales 247
9.7 Uraniumfromseawater 249
9.8 Uraniumfromgoldtailings 249
9.9 Uraniumfromcoalash 250
Sourcesandreferences 251
viii Contents
10 Thoriumasanuclearfuel 253
BradleyS.VanGosenandHarikrishnanTulsidas
10.1 Introduction 253
10.2 Thoriumfuelcycle 254
10.3 Previousworkonthethoriumfuelcycle 258
10.4 Currentresearchandfuturepossibilities 267
10.5 Thoriumgeologyandresources 273
10.6 Currentandrecentthoriumrecovery 289
10.7 Disclaimer 290
References 290
Part III Conversion, Enrichment and Fuel Fabrication 297
11 Conversionofnaturaluranium 299
AndrewJ.OliverandEnginO¨zberk
11.1 Introduction 299
11.2 Conversionandneeds 299
11.3 Conversiontechnologies 300
11.4 Currentstatusoftheconversionindustry 314
11.5 Factorsthatimpactconverters 315
11.6 ConversiontoUO 316
2
11.7 Potentialfuturedevelopments 318
References 318
12 Uraniumenrichment 321
PaulHarding
12.1 Introduction 321
12.2 Howisuraniumenriched? 324
12.3 Historictechnologies 337
12.4 Futuretechnologies 339
12.5 Qualitycontrolofuraniumhexafluorideinenrichment 344
12.6 Managementoftails 346
12.7 Experienceenrichingreprocesseduranium 349
References 351
13 Nuclearfuelfabrication 353
EileenSupko
13.1 Introduction 353
13.2 Fuelassemblydesigncomponents 367
13.3 Currentandfuturetrends 374
13.4 Sourcesoffurtherinformationandadvice 378
References 379
Contents ix
Part IV Environmental and Social Issues 383
14 Managementforhealth,safety,environment,andcommunity
inuraniumminingandprocessing 385
FrankHarris
14.1 Frameworkforhealth,safety,environment,andcommunity
inuraniumoperation 385
14.2 HSECacrosstheuraniumlifecycle 385
14.3 Managinghealthinuraniumoperations 387
14.4 Managingsafetyinuraniumoperations 394
14.5 Managingenvironmentalimpactsinuraniumoperations 396
14.6 Managingcommunityimpactsinuraniumoperations 401
14.7 IntegrationofHSECandconclusion 404
15 Safeandsecurepackagingandtransportofuraniummaterials 405
DylanHem
15.1 Introduction 405
15.2 Class7dangerousgoodsandregulatorypractice/codes 405
15.3 Packagingofradioactivematerials 406
15.4 Securitymeasuresfortransportofnuclearmaterials 408
15.5 Currentissuesforthetransportofnuclearmaterials 409
15.6 Transportofuraniumconcentratesanduraniumhexafluoride 410
15.7 Transportandpackagingofplutonium 411
15.8 Transportoffabricatedfuel—uraniumandMOX 412
15.9 ShipsforMOX(andusedfuelorhigh-levelwastes) 412
15.10 Sourcesoffurtherinformation 413
References 414
16 Uraniummineandmillremediationandreclamation 415
DougCollier
16.1 Introduction 415
16.2 Uraniummineandmillingsites 419
16.3 Siteremediationandreclamation 423
16.4 Risksaddressedinrehabilitation 424
16.5 Toolsusedinrehabilitation 427
16.6 Fundingforrehabilitation 432
16.7 Futuretrends 432
16.8 Conclusions 434
References 435
17 Interregionaltechnical cooperationforeducationandtraining
intheuraniumindustry 439
PatriciaWieland
17.1 Introduction 439