Technical and economical assessment of nuclear material multi-recycling in the French nuclear fuel cycle

3 May 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

IMT Atlantique

Department

Doctoral division

Research Field

Computer science » Programming
Mathematics » Other

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

France

Application Deadline

15 May 2024 - 23:00 (Europe/Paris)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Offer Starting Date

1 Oct 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Context

France's current nuclear fleet is based on pressurized water reactors (PWRs) loaded with UOX fuel and MOX fuel, produced at the MELOX factory from plutonium extracted from spent UOX fuel reprocessed at the La Hague factory. The reactor fleet is due to be gradually replaced by third-generation PWRs (EPRs) from 2035 onwards. The renewal of processing-recycling plants, targeted for 2040, depends on the choice of nuclear materials management strategy deployed in the cycle. The latest PPE has established as a reference framework the deployment of a multi-material recycling strategy in EPRs by 2050, and the postponement of the deployment of a fleet of fast neutron reactors (RNR) to 2100. The assessment of these fuel cycle strategies can be based on dynamic fuel cycle modeling using a dynamic fuel cycle simulation tool, such as the CLASS code developed at CNRS/IN2P3.

Thesis objectives

The "Cycle Physics" part of this thesis will aim to model these different cycle strategies in order to characterize the treatment-recycling plants required. The second part of this thesis will focus on the technical and economic aspects of the fuel cycle. It is accepted that the inherent cost of fuel is not a dominant component of the total cost of the nuclear fuel cycle. However, multi-recycling implies a paradigm shift in terms of resizing processing-recycling plants beyond their renewal. One of the fundamental parameters for initiating cost assessments of multi-recycling strategies in PWR and RNR is the flow of materials through the cycle's plants. These data will be estimated in the first part of the thesis, and will form the input for the technico-economic evaluation.

On this basis, the PhD student will make a first-order assessment of the need for additional treatment-recycling capacity, and calculate the associated investment costs. Particular attention will be paid to the anticipation of RNR from the second half of the 21st century onwards. Indeed, the treatment-recycling of materials in RNR implies a different and probably more constraining dimensioning than in REP. In the first case, multi-recycling anticipates the development of RNR, and plant expansion is adapted to this objective. In the second case, the development of RNR is not envisaged, and plant expansion will take place in two stages, according to anticipated needs. In the first phase, this extension will be adapted to EPR recycling, and in the second phase, to RNR recycling. We will then be able to quantify the potential additional cost of multi-recycling nuclear materials by developing a calculation tool in Python.

Thesis offer : https://theses.doctorat-bretagneloire.fr/3mg/campagne-2024

Requirements

Research Field

Computer science » Programming

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

The PhD student's work will mainly involve the development and use of modeling tools in Python and C++. An interest in programming, modeling and scientific computing is therefore required. A background in energy economics is not required, but a certain appetite for this field is necessary to successfully complete this inter-disciplinary thesis.

Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

IMT Atlantique Bretagne - Pays de la Loire

Country

France

City

Nantes

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://theses.doctorat-bretagneloire.fr/3mg/campagne-2024/evaluation-technico-…

Contact

City

Nantes

Website

https://www.imt-atlantique.fr/en

STATUS: EXPIRED