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Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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Front-end nuclear fuel supply cooperation: Turning allied interdependence into strategic advantage
The global nuclear revival, which is fueled by unprecedented demand for firm, affordable, dispatchable power for artificial intelligence and data center build-out, energy security imperatives, and climate commitments, has exposed a structural reality of the Western fuel cycle: No single allied nation currently possesses the full suite of front-end capabilities. From mining through conversion, enrichment, fabrication, and the emerging deconversion and metallization steps required for reactor fuels, capability is distributed across Canada, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States (collectively, the “Sapporo Five”), as well as a small group of close partners.
G. Petö, R. Pepelnik
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 106 | Number 2 | October 1990 | Pages 219-227
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE90-A27472
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The present status of various deuterium-tritium (D-T) neutron sources is given, including the prospects for improvements. By upgrading a Rotating Target Neutron Source II-type neutron generator, a yield of 1014 n/s can be achieved in a small volume. A yield of 1015 n/s is expected with construction of a gas-jet target. According to a proposal from Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe, a similar yield could be reached even with a volume of 500 cm3. Realistic fusion reactor conditions can only be satisfied by high-intensity D-T neutron sources. Other more economical or higher intensity accelerator-based neutron sources cannot replace them in this research field. The lack of sufficient financial support delays technically realistic projects. This difficulty might be overcome by a more intense joint international collaboration.