1. NUCLEAR CAPACITY AND ELECTRICITY GENERATION
Figure 1.6: The nuclear fuel cycle
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URANIUM ENRICHMENT |
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FUEL FABRICATION |
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Enriched uranium |
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Depleted uranium |
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hexa uoride |
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Fresh fuel
PRODUCTION OF ELECTRICITY
Uranium hexa uoride
CONVERSION
Plutonium
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REPROCESSING |
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INTERIM STORAGE |
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SNF |
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Spent fuel |
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Recycled uranium |
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Natural uranium |
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High-level |
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Spent nuclear |
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waste |
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fuel (SNF) |
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URANIUM |
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MINING AND MILLING |
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WASTE DISPOSAL
This figure summarises the main steps of the nuclear fuel cycle for a light water reactor. It illustrates the various activities that constitute the nuclear energy sector. The details of fuel cycle steps and levels vary from reactor type to reactor type but the main elements remain similar for current nuclear power plants (NPPs). The fuel cycle of an NPP can be divided into three main stages: the “front end”, from mining of uranium ore to the delivery of fabricated fuel assemblies to the reactor; power production; and the “back end”, from the unloading of fuel assemblies from the reactor to final disposal of spent fuel and/or radioactive waste from reprocessing.
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NUCLEAR ENERGY DATA/DONNÉES SUR L’ÉNERGIE NUCLÉAIRE 2019, NEA No. 7474, © OECD 2019 |