Thomas Sanders comes to the office this week with a commitment to help the U.S. rebuild its manufacturing capabilities for new nuclear technologies

Thomas Sanders, Ph.D. is the new President of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) and he brings with him to the office a vision of helping the U.S. rebuild its capabilities to export nuclear technologies and fuel to the rest of the world.  However, he isn't just painting a picture of commercial success.  What he has in mind is a combination of "right-size reactors" of 100-300 MW and cradle-to-grave reliable fuel services for developing nations. This is an early exposition of what Sanders plans to make as major priority for the nuclear science and engineering professional society during his term in office.

Sanders (right) said an exclusive interview to the Energy Collective that the concepts of his proposal came out of bilateral meetings between U.S. and Russian nuclear science leaders following the end of the cold war.  Sanders came from Sandia National Laboratory and he’s spent time helping the lab transition from its Cold War mission.

"We recognized that both nations should develop technologies for the developing world without these nations being burdened by the cost or risks of the entire fuel cycle."

Supplying "right-size" reactors to developing nations has another advantage Sanders said. 

"A small reactor is a grid-appropriate reactor which fits in with the realities of the infrastructure of some countries."

Fifty ways to design a small reactor

There are plenty of candidate reactor technologies for U.S. firms to hang their hats on to make money through exports of small reactors.  According to Sanders, there are at last seven different small reactor technologies in various stages of development and another 50 concepts kicking around the drawing boards of engineering firms who think they see an opportunity.

Former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore once testified before Congress with words to the effect that nuclear reactors only come in one size - super size.  Sanders will likely prove him wrong though that issues isn’t on his agenda.

The development of U.S. manufacturing capabilities to make and export small reactors is important not only to the economy, which could use the help, but also for U.S. influence in the area of nonproliferation.  Sanders sees the small reactors as "carrots."

"When they are tied to reliable fuel services, small reactors will allow developing nations to bypass uranium enrichment and reprocessing which could lead to production of weapons grade materials.  Also, it is an insurance policy that allows them to have the electricity without the costly investment that usually comes with a nuclear energy program."

"It gives them a reason to listen to us about these issues," he said. "Otherwise, without them, why should they pay attention to the nonproliferation message."

Recycle & re-use

Asked for examples Sanders pointed out that Mexico, Malaysia, and even Taiwan could all benefit from "right-size reactors" and reliable fuel services.  When I mentioned that Taiwan already has large conventional reactors, he responded that the country does not have a path forward for dealing with its spent nuclear fuel from those plants.

"From a nonproliferation perspective, we need to help them get the spent fuel out of the country."

Once the fuel came back to the U.S., Sanders says the U.S. would need to recycle and reuse it. 

Another example mentioned by Sanders, in response to a question, is that Vietnam could build an aluminum smelter to be powered by a reactor of 300-500 MW to help that nation develop its bauxite deposits.

Political commitment for fuel services

In terms of a mechanism for delivering reliable fuel services, Sanders pointed out that the concepts in the international agreements signed by the Bush administration under GNEP are still valid and the agreements are still in place.  Sanders said there is no need to continue the GNEP brand name, but that the principles the U.S. now has in common with other nations could make for a successful program. 

It would need political support in Congress, but President Obama has already opened the door with his April 2009 speech in Prague where he called for development of an international fuel bank.

Sanders also pointed out that Ted Turner's foundation and Warren Buffet have already put up $50 million to jump start a reliable fuel services program.

Qualities of “right-size” reactors

As far as the small reactors are concerned, Sanders says he envisions that they could be build in modules and shipped out using commercial transport. To be competitive they must offer long fuel cycles, at least five years, so that participating nations aren't constantly shuffling fuel elements back and forth.  He also said that to avoid the huge cost of containment buildings, small reactors should be designed to be installed in underground vaults which will make them secure.

"The combination of long core lifetimes and technology that leaps a generation forward would help the U.S. revive its capability to competitively manufacture and export nuclear technologies to the rest of the world."

Asked for specific examples of reactor technologies that would meet these criteria, he rattled off the names of four-or-five firms that would be familiar to anyone who has followed the development of the market for small reactors.  Then he added a surprise.  he said the sodium cooled reactor design that was first deployed in EBR-II was also a reasonable choice for a "right size reactor."

Business agenda

Sanders said that as the new ANS President he plans to advocate for an agenda that supports rebuilding U.S. manufacturing capabilities for "right size" reactor technologies and implementing a reliable fuel services program, plus recycle and re-use on the back end.

"These are good principles to do business," he said.

Later this year Sanders will release a formal position paper on his initiative. If you have questions or comments, you can reach him through the ANS website at www.ans.org

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