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Nuclear Theft: Risks and Safeguards
Table B–1. Characteristics of Typical
Foreign Reactors
| Component |
AGR |
GCR |
HWR |
| Electric Power, MW(e) |
1,000 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
| Thermal Power, MW(th) |
2,380 |
3,275 |
3,000 |
| Fuel Type |
U(L)O2 pellets
in |
Metallic U(N) in |
U(N)O2 pellets
in |
| U(N) = natural
uranium |
stainless steel |
rods inside |
metal rods |
| U(L) = low-enriched
uranium |
tubes U235/U
= |
graphite sleeves |
|
|
1.5−1.8% |
|
|
|
initially,
2−2.5% |
|
|
|
in equilibrium |
|
|
| Moderator |
graphite |
graphite |
heavy water |
| Coolant |
CO2 |
CO2 |
heavy water |
| Mass of Fuel
Assemblies |
|
|
|
| (total) |
~190 tonnes |
~1,000 tonnes |
~200 tonnes |
| Initial Natural
Uranium |
173 tonnes |
900 tonnes (nat- |
195 tonnes |
| Inventory |
(1.5%
U235) |
ural uranium) |
(natural U) |
| Inventory of
U235 (contained |
|
|
|
| in low enrichment) |
2,580 kg |
7,525 kg |
1,380 kg |
| Initial High-enriched
U235 (3%) |
|
|
|
| Inventory |
– |
– |
– |
| Initial Pu Inventory |
– |
– |
– |
| Annual Uranium Feed |
21.9 tonnes |
250 tonnes |
104 tonnes |
| (low enrichment) |
(2.3%
U235) |
(natural ~.71%) |
(natural ~.71%) |
| Annual U235 in
low enrichment |
|
|
|
| uranium feed |
503 kg |
1,780 kg |
1,115 kg |
| Annual Fully Enriched |
|
|
|
| Uranium (93%
U235) Feed |
– |
– |
– |
| Annual Pu Output |
179 kg |
540 kg |
376.2 kg |
| Annual Pu Input |
~125 kg after Pu |
|
|
|
recycle starts |
– |
– |
| U233 Production
Rate |
– |
– |
– |
NUCLEAR
POWER GROWTH OUTSIDE THE U.S. THROUGH 1980
Table
B–2 summarizes the recent AEC forecasts ("Nuclear Power
Forecasts," WASH–1139, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission,
December 1972) along with our calculated estimates of the nuclear
material inventories and rates of flow. The AEC forecasts do not
include the Peoples Republic of China. We have also assumed the
operable non-military nuclear capacity in China will be very small
through 1980. The spread between the high and low estimates in the
AEC forecast for foreign, non-communist countries is 22 percent of
the "most likely" value for 1980. Uncertainties concerning plans
for nuclear power development in the communist countries would
increase this spread for all foreign countries to perhaps 35
percent by 1980. Comparing Tables 3–2 and B–2, we see
that the total projected nuclear power in the U.S. in 1980 is
expected to be 40–45 percent of the world's total.