REVISTA DYNA ENERGÍA

Key words:

Reactor nuclear, fisión, reciclado, ciclos avanzados del combustible, ciclo cerrado, sostenibilidad, reactor rápido, Generación IV, Nuclear reactor, fission, sustainability, closed cycle, fast reactor, recycling, advanced fuel cycles, Generation IV

Article type:

ARTICULO DE INVESTIGACION / RESEARCH ARTICLE

Section:

RESEARCH ARTICLES

ABSTRACT:
This review article describes the technologies of fast reactors and the completely closed nuclear fuel cycle, including partitioning and transmutation, as the key elements to reach long term sustainability for nuclear energy. Sustainability meaning, for nuclear energy, a set of characteristics that includes a 30 fold better utilization of the natural resources and a 100 times reduction of the long lived nuclear wastes. The scientific principles that make these technologies the path for sustainability are summarized and their combination into advanced nuclear fuel cycles are described. The article also makes a brief review of the different technological options for the fast reactions selected within Generation IV and the European initiatives lunched built demonstration plants for the most advances technologies.

Keywords: Nuclear reactor, fission, sustainability, closed cycle, fast reactor, recycling, advanced fuel cycles, Generation IV.