Fast Reactors, Nuclear Disarmament, and Security

Sean Kilduff M.A. Candidate Elliott School of International Affairs George Washington University

Agenda 

Current State of Plutonium Disposition



How Fast Reactors Work



Assessing the Fast Reactor Option

US-Russia Plutonium Management & Disposition Agreement 

34 metric tons of Plutonium



Disposition by irradiation as reactor fuel



LWRs in the United States



Fast-Neutron Reactors in Russia



IAEA Verification



$400 million US contribution

Image: Courtesy of Reuters

Plutonium Disposition in the U.S. 

Disassembly of nuclear weapons pits



Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF)



Waste Solidification Building



MOX fuel agreements

What is a “fast” neutron?



Thermal neutron = 0.025 eV



Fast neutron > 1 MeV

http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Nuclear-FuelCycle/Introduction/Physics-of-Nuclear-Energy/

Fast Neutron Reactors 

Fuel



Cooling



Efficiency



Safety

Fast reactors and long-term waste Radioactivity of spent Uranium fuel over time

Waste products of concern

M. Salvatores, ANL

Assessing the fast reactor option 

Benefits



Drawbacks

 Arms control

 Expense

 Nuclear security

 Long-term viability

 Efficiency

 Breeder reactors

 Waste management

 Political opposition

Conclusion: Not Yet 

Future Developments to Consider:  New Customers for MOX  IAEA Verification Agreements  Russian Progress  UK Plutonium Disposition