The effects of changing economic conditions on fuel cycle costs in pressurized water reactors : a report to East Central Nuclear Group, Inc.

The effects of changing economic conditions on fuel cycle costs in an advsnced pressurized-water power reactor with free-standing stainless steel or Zircaloy fuel cladding are analyzed for eight different cost bases. These cost bases represent the effect of most of the combinations of economic conditions likely to occur during the life of the 461 Mw(e) reactor. The cost bases are dependent on the following economic parameters: cost of natural uranium hexafluoride, weight fraction of uranium-236 in uranium hexafluoride of zero value, cost of separative work, fabrication cost of stainless steel and Zircaloy- 4 fuels, Pu(NC/sub 3/)/sub 4/ to plutonium cost, plutonium credit, uranium hexafluoride carrying charge excluding time of fabrication, uranium hexafluoride carrying charge during time of fabrication, carrying charge on fabrication cost, and uranium hexafluoride loss during fabrication of stainless steel and Zircaloy- 4 fuels. Three methods of fueling are also considered: batch, and three- or five- zone outing.'' (N.W.R.)