Ydinpolttoainekiertoon

Ydinpolttoainekiertoon refers to the cycle of nuclear fuel from its production to its final disposal. This process is central to the operation of nuclear power plants and involves several distinct stages.

The cycle begins with the mining of uranium ore, which is then refined and enriched to increase the concentration of fissile isotopes, primarily Uranium-235. This enriched uranium is then fabricated into fuel rods, which are assembled into fuel assemblies for insertion into a nuclear reactor.

During reactor operation, the fuel assemblies undergo nuclear fission, generating heat that is used to produce electricity. As fission progresses, the fuel is consumed, and radioactive byproducts accumulate. This spent nuclear fuel is highly radioactive and remains so for a considerable period.

After its useful life in the reactor, spent fuel is typically stored underwater in cooling pools at the reactor site for several years to allow its radioactivity and heat to decay. Following this cooling period, it may be transferred to dry cask storage, a more robust containment system for long-term interim storage.

The ultimate fate of spent nuclear fuel is a subject of ongoing debate and technological development. Reprocessing is an option where unused uranium and plutonium can be extracted from spent fuel and recycled into new fuel. However, this process is complex and raises proliferation concerns. The alternative is direct disposal of spent fuel in deep geological repositories, designed to isolate the radioactive material from the environment for thousands of years. This latter approach is considered the most likely long-term solution by many countries.