INPRO Studies of Proliferation Resistance for DUPIC Fuel Cycle

Abstract

The evaluation of proliferation resistance on the DUPIC fuel cycle was performed using the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO) user manual. The user manual was finally published from INPRO as a tool for proliferation resistance evaluation. Five user requirements were well organized under one basic principle, and each evaluation parameter for each user requirement has criteria for qualitative and quantitative evaluation for an innovative nuclear system. The DUPIC fuel cycle is to fabricate CANDU fuel from spent pressurized water reactor fuel by use of a dry thermal process without separating the stable fission products. The DUPIC process and fabricated fuel have very intense radiation background and a low amount of fissile plutonium and uranium. The DUPIC fuel cycle has a number of intrinsic features that enhance proliferation resistance. The number of assemblies in the DUPIC process to get 1 significant quantity is very large ([approximately]48 assemblies). The assessment results using the user manual show that the DUPIC fuel cycle is very strong against nuclear proliferation by the material property itself and the facility condition. Additionally, several suggestions and conditions were made to increase the proliferation resistance for innovative future nuclear energy system.