Waste Management of Modular Reactors: A Matured Industry Prepared for Generation IV

Abstract

Ontario Power Generation has robust processes to store high, low and intermediate-level wastes of CANDU nuclear reactors. Generation IV modular reactors will employ new technologies resulting in new waste forms, which have not been managed on large scales. Three of these reactor types are assessed in this paper for their waste streams and management: Denatured Molten Salt Reactor, Stable Salt Reactor, and Small Modular Pressurized Light Water Reactor. Small Modular Pressurized Light Water Reactor designs have high-level waste similar to that of CANDU, solid fuel requiring wet interim storage and eventual dry storage and disposal. The Stable and Denatured Molten Salt Reactors have high-level waste forms less similar to CANDU design, with both reactors having integrated fuel/salt mixtures. These new waste-forms will be controlled through the development of new transportation, storage, and disposal containers.