Ritsumeikan University researchers perform a life cycle assessment of resource use in nuclear power generation from uranium
UNIVERSITY RITSUMEIKAN
In an ever-evolving world, rapid population growth coupled with urbanization and industrialization is leading to an increasing demand for energy. The challenge today lies in meeting these energy requirements while keeping global warming under control — a condition that fossil fuels fail to meet. In an effort to reduce environmental degradation and natural resource depletion associated with the use of fossil fuels, nuclear power is being promoted as an alternative energy source.
Performing a life cycle assessment (LCA) of any energy source is important to understand how it affects the environment. As a result, many studies have evaluated the cumulative life-cycle energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with electricity generated from nuclear power. However, most of these studies consider GHG emissions and energy consumption, which may lead to a less comprehensive assessment of the environmental impact and sustainability of electricity generated from energy. Nuclear. For example, we still don’t understand the total resources used in this process.
In an effort to provide a more holistic perspective, a team of scientists from Ritsumeikan University, Japan analyzed the environmental impact of nuclear power generation through a less-considered measure – the mass fraction. amount of resources extracted from the lithosphere during the life cycle of this process. Their research focuses on the extraction methods, types of nuclear reactors and types of uranium fuel cycle systems used in the production of nuclear power, and how these change the impact. What is the process environment like? They also assessed the different levels of uranium ore mined — a highly volatile entity — and its effect on total demand for raw materials (TMR). This article was made available online on June 8, 2022 and published in Volume 363 of Cleaner Production Magazine on August 20, 2022.
“One LCA of resource utilization for uranium-based 1kWh nuclear power generation is done by TMR analysis,” Shoki Kosai, the corresponding author of the study, said. “We looked at both open and closed fuel cycles, and three types of uranium mining methods: open pit mining, underground mining, and underground mining. in place washout (ISL), among other variables in nuclear power generation, for a radical LCA.“GHG emissions and natural resource use were then assessed for these variables.
The researchers found that the TMR (indicating the intensity of extraction) of the enriched uranium fuel was highest, followed by nuclear fuel, recycled uranium fuel, and mixed oxide (MOX) fuel. and finally the yellow cake. The grade of the uranium ore also has a huge impact on the TMR coefficient, which means that the TMR varies considerably with different mining methods. In place washout has the lowest TMR. However, extraction method has a more significant impact on resource use than it does on GHG emissions.
Discussing the impact of the fuel cycle, Professor Eiji Yamasue said, “We found that a closed cycle that reprocesses uranium fuel uses 26% less resources than an open cycle that does not reuse its by-products.. ”
In addition, it has been found that the natural resource use of nuclear power generation is similar to that of renewable energy and significantly lower than that of thermal power. Furthermore, the global warming potential and TMR of nuclear power generation show very different trends. Along with reducing greenhouse gas emissions, nuclear power generation also uses fewer natural resources, making it an environmentally advantageous source of electricity generation.
“Maintaining a circular economy, even for resource use, is important. Our findings can assist policymakers in formulating long-term energy policies that consider nuclear power generation and generation.” Dr. Kosai concludes.
Is the future nuclear? That is definitely a possibility!
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References
DOIs: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132530
About Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Ritsumeikan University is one of the prestigious private universities in Japan. Its main campus is in Kyoto, where awe-inspiring settings await researchers. With the unwavering aim of creating symbiotic values and outstanding talent, the university aims to become a next-generation research university. It will enhance researcher potential by providing support that is best suited to the needs of young and leading researchers, according to their career stage. Ritsumeikan University also strives to build a global research network as a “knowledge node” and disseminate its achievements internationally, thereby contributing to solving human/social issues through interdisciplinary research. and social performance.
Website: http://en.ritsumei.ac.jp/
About Associate Professor Shoki Kosai from Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Shoki Kosai is an Associate Professor at the Global Innovation Research Organization at Ritsumeikan University, Japan. He holds a Master’s degree in Renewable Energy from the University of Malaya, Malaysia. He completed his doctoral program at Kyoto University, Japan in 2020. He has 30 publications to his name. Dr. Kosai’s research focuses on conserving natural resources, renewable energy and creating a greener and cleaner environment. He presented several papers in the IET Clean Energy and Technology Conference.
About Professor Eiji Yamasue from Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Eiji Yamasue is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the College of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, Japan. He completed his PhD program at Tokyo Institute of Technology in 2000. His research interests include industrial ecology, energy and resources, etc. He is the author of several books and has published 322 articles with more than 1600 citations to himself. He received two science awards in 2017 including Energy and Materials Efficiency and CO2 Reduction in the Steel Industry Best Poster Award. He has received several grants for scientific research as well as competitive grants.
JOURNEYS
Cleaner Production Magazine
DOI
10.1016 / j.jclepro.2022.132530
RESEARCH METHODS
Simulation / computational modeling
RESEARCH SUBJECTS
Do not apply
ARTICLE TITLE
Lifecycle resource use of nuclear power generation taking into account the total demand for raw materials
ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE
August 20, 2022
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