scholarly journals Economic Viability of Metallic Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor Fuel in Korea

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. K. Kim ◽  
W. I. Ko ◽  
Yoon Hee Lee

This paper evaluates whether SFR metallic nuclear fuel can be economical. To make this determination, the cost of SFCF (SFR fuel cycle facilities) was estimated, and the break-even point of the manufacturing cost of SFR metallic nuclear fuel for direct disposal option was then calculated. As a result of the cost estimation, the levelized unit cost (LUC) for SFCF was calculated to be 5,311 $/kgHM, and the break-even point was calculated to be $5,267/kgHM. Therefore, the cost difference between LUC and the break-even point is not only small but is also within the relevant range of the uncertainty level of Class 3 in accordance with a generic cost estimate classification matrix of AACE (the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering). This means it is very difficult to judge the economical feasibility of SFR metallic nuclear fuel because as of today there are no commercial facilities in Korea or the world. The economic feasibility of SFR metallic nuclear fuel, however, will be enhanced if the mass production of SFCF becomes possible in the future.

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Muhammad Minhaj Khan ◽  
Jae Min Lee ◽  
Jae Hak Cheong ◽  
Joo Ho Whang

With a view to providing supportive information for the decision-making on the direction of the future nuclear energy systems in Korea (i.e., direct disposal or recycling of spent nuclear fuel) to be made around 2020, quantitative studies on the spent nuclear fuel (SNF) including transuranic elements (TRUs) and a series of economic analyses were conducted. At first, the total isotopic inventory of TRUs in the SNF to be generated from all thirty-six units of nuclear power plants in operation or under planning is estimated based on the Korean government’s official plan for nuclear power development. Secondly, the optimized deployment strategies are proposed considering the minimum number of sodium cooled-fast reactors (SFRs) needed to transmute all TRUs. Finally, direct disposal and Pyro-SFR closed nuclear energy systems were compared using equilibrium economic model and considering reduction of TRUs and electricity generation as benefits. Probabilistic economic analysis shows that the assumed total generation cost for direct disposal and Pyro-SFR closed nuclear energy systems resides within the range of 13.60~33.94 mills/kWh and 11.40~25.91 mills/kWh, respectively. Dominant cost elements and the range of SFR overnight cost which guarantees the economic feasibility of the Pyro-SFR closed nuclear energy system over the direct disposal option were also identified through sensitivity analysis and break-even cost estimation.


2011 ◽  
Vol 121-126 ◽  
pp. 3612-3616
Author(s):  
Wen Quan Huang ◽  
Kai Shi Li ◽  
Hai Jun Liu

This paper adopts the method labor time standard, in the development environment of VC++, using Access database storage costs data, and the cost results output into Excel, developed mechanical product turning processing manufacturing cost estimation system. Using this system can realize turning processing cost estimation and feedback the cost information of mechanical product turning processing, make a design personnel to understand the cost information, to improve design, reduce the cost, improve the market competitiveness of products


2006 ◽  
Vol 110 (1113) ◽  
pp. 759-766 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. H. van der Laan ◽  
R. Curran ◽  
M. J. L. van Tooren ◽  
C. Ritchie

Abstract Multidisciplinary design and innovative highly automated manufacturing methods are increasingly important to today’s aircraft industry: multidis-ciplinary design because it reduces lead-time and results in a better design, and automated manufacturing methods because they are more capable and reduce manufacturing cost. In this paper a cost estimation model is presented that integrates the manufacturing cost of friction stir welded connections within a multidisciplinary design decision tool. Due to the fact that friction stir welding is a new manufacturing method, the cost estimation model is based on the actual process physics, meaning what the process looks like in terms of processing speeds and characteristics. As an integral part of a multidisciplinary design framework, the developed cost estimation model contributes to a design support tool that assesses not only manufacturing but also structural and aerodynamic issues. It is shown that the cost model developed can be integrated into this more holistic design process support architecture. The predicted costs are accurate to the historical data and allow tradeoff of manufacturing and economic considerations within the context of the multidisciplinary design tool. The tradeoff capability is highlighted through a presented case study that compares the friction stir welding process as an alternative solution to more tradition riveting. Most importantly, this results in a quantitative tradeoff between two processes that shows the manufacturing cycle time of friction stir welding to be reduced by 60% and the recurring assembly cost by 20%.


Author(s):  
Francisco Pereira Monteiro ◽  
Vitor Sousa ◽  
Inês Meireles ◽  
Carlos Oliveira Cruz

For the majority of the contractual arrangements used in construction projects, the owner is not responsible for the cost deviations due to the variability of labor productivity or material price, amongst many other aspects. Consequently, the cost performance of a project may be entirely distinct for the owner and the contractor. Since the majority of the quantitative research on cost estimation and deviation found in the literature adopts the owners’ perspective, this research provides a contribution towards modelling costs and cost deviation from a contractors’ perspective. From an initial sample of 13 residential building and 10 office building projects, it was possible to develop models for cost estimation at the early stage of development including both endogenous and exogenous variables. Although the sample is relatively small, the authors were able to fully analyze all the cost data, using no secondary sources of data (very frequent in cost modelling studies). The statistically significant variables in the cost estimation models were the areas above and below ground and the years following the 2008 financial crisis, including the international bailout (2011-2014) period. For estimating the unit cost, a nonlinear model was obtained with the number of underground and total floor, the floor ratio and the years following the 2008 financial crisis, including the international bailout (2011-2014) period as predictors. For the office buildings, it was also found a statistically significant correlation between the cost deviation and the number of underground floors.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 138
Author(s):  
Mohamed Osman Awaleh ◽  
Abdi-Basid Adan ◽  
Omar Assowe Dabar ◽  
Mohamed Jalludin ◽  
Moussa Mahdi Ahmed ◽  
...  

The Republic of Djibouti has untapped potential in terms of renewable energy resources, such as geothermal, wind, and solar energy. This study examines the economic feasibility of green hydrogen production by water electrolysis using wind and geothermal energy resources in the Asal–Ghoubbet Rift (AG Rift), Republic of Djibouti. It is the first study in Africa that compares the cost per kg of green hydrogen produced by wind and geothermal energy from a single site. The unit cost of electricity produced by the wind turbine (0.042 $/kWh) is more competitive than that of a dry steam geothermal plant (0.086 $/kWh). The cost of producing hydrogen with a suitable electrolyzer powered by wind energy ranges from $0.672/kg H2 to $1.063/kg H2, while that produced by the high-temperature electrolyzer (HTE) powered by geothermal energy ranges from $3.31/kg H2 to $4.78/kg H2. Thus, the AG Rift area can produce electricity and green hydrogen at low-cost using wind energy compared to geothermal energy. The amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reduced by using a “Yinhe GX113-2.5MW” wind turbine and a single flash geothermal power plant instead of fuel-oil generators is 2061.6 tons CO2/MW/year and 2184.8 tons CO2/MW/year, respectively.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Won Il Ko ◽  
Fanxing Gao

An economic analysis has been performed to compare four nuclear fuel cycle options: a once-through cycle (OT), DUPIC recycling, thermal recycling using MOX fuel in a pressurized water reactor (PWR-MOX), and sodium fast reactor recycling employing pyroprocessing (Pyro-SFR). This comparison was made to suggest an economic competitive fuel cycle for the Republic of Korea. The fuel cycle cost (FCC) has been calculated based on the equilibrium material flows integrated with the unit cost of the fuel cycle components. The levelized fuel cycle costs (LFCC) have been derived in terms of mills/kWh for a fair comparison among the FCCs, and the results are as follows: OT 7.35 mills/kWh, DUPIC 9.06 mills/kWh, PUREX-MOX 8.94 mills/kWh, and Pyro-SFR 7.70 mills/kWh. Due to unavoidable uncertainties, a cost range has been applied to each unit cost, and an uncertainty study has been performed accordingly. A sensitivity analysis has also been carried out to obtain the break-even uranium price (215$/kgU) for the Pyro-SFR against the OT, which demonstrates that the deployment of the Pyro-SFR may be economical in the foreseeable future. The influence of pyrotechniques on the LFCC has also been studied to determine at which level the potential advantages of Pyro-SFR can be realized.


2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 121-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juha Laitila ◽  
Robert Prinz ◽  
Lauri Sikanen

The objective of this study was to determine the economic performance of alternative chipper choices for small-scale chipping based on unit cost (€ per chip-m3) and net present value (NPV) calculations. For the chipping cost and investment profitability analyses four tractor-powered professional or semi-professional disc chippers and two professional drum chippers mounted on a truck or powered by tractor were selected. Initial investment, operating costs, and the cost of outsourced chipping were the key elements for comparing the profitability of investment alternatives. The average purchase prices, cost factors, and technical details of the chipper units were acquired from machine dealers, specification sheets, a literature review, and interviews with chipping entrepreneurs. The results of the three tractor-powered professional chippers involved in the comparison were very close to each other. The profitable running of a truck-mounted drum chipper calls for high annual chipping volumes: the chipper type is therefore a feasible choice for an entrepreneur in large-scale chipping. Semi-professional disc chippers offer lower investment costs, but their economic feasibility is relatively poor.


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