I said chicken and egg stuff and it is, but it is also horse and cart type stuff as well, do you think that the petrol or diesel engines were built before they had a fuel they knew they could burn in either of those? Of course not! that is just logical, the fuel was there before either of those engines ever came along.
The Natrium reactor can run on either HALEU or it can burn a MOX fuel to become a fast reactor, that is actually a selling point they use, they say it can reduce waste, and it will if everything pans out?
The word "fast" stands for "fast breeder" reactor, where it produces more Plutonium than they add in the first place and that gets burnt in the reaction so it isn't making more Plutonium that could be considered a proliferation concern , the fuel for the MOX reactor is DU and Plutonium with a small amount or enriched Uranium235 to start the reaction off, I doubt they would even need HALEU? more likey Uranium enriched to 5% would possibly do because it is only needed to start the reaction not run it? once that happens the U238 is converted to U239 and that converted to Pu239 in about 3 days is what I read? The process becomes ongoing, the only fuel that needs to be added to maintain the reaction is the addition of more DU periodically.
Like you said Zog, the US probably wont want the MOX version in the US, I agree initially, but other countries will if they can get the Natrium and other SMR's that can burn MOX fuel, a likely candidate is the UK.
But like I said the very first thing they need is a viable fuel and one that has been tested first, it will have to be tested well before any reactors are ever put into service and a reliable supply will be needed just like they say about HALEU!
Zog you miss the point they will test an ARC setup in the US but they wont be using it there they will sell it to countries like the UK.
The US DOE will sell the DU to other countries, but so could Cameco if they build their own enrichment plant just as easily.
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