{"id":{"repo_id":"mit","oai_identifier":"oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/162524"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/mit/oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/162524","repository":{"repo_id":"mit","name":"MIT","base_url":"https://dspace.mit.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Levelized Cost of Fuel (LCOF) studies for microreactors using TRISO fuel in hydride and beryllium-based composite moderators in open and closed fuel cycles","abstract":"This study provides a comprehensive techno-economic evaluation of a specific class of nuclear batteries—high-temperature gas-cooled 10 MW_th microreactors (HTGRs) with TRISO fuel in prismatic- and pebble-bed cores—using four composite moderator concepts (MgO–Be, MgO–BeO, MgO–YH, MgO–ZrH). These options are compared against a prismatic graphite benchmark, under both once-through and continuous-recycle fuel cycles. In once-through prismatic systems, hydride-based moderators can reduce overall fuel-cycle costs by up to about 20% relative to graphite, whereas beryllium-based moderators may remain 40–50% costlier due to higher raw material expenses. Shifting from prismatic blocks to pebble beds decreases moderator usage and increases burnup, thus making advanced moderator options more competitive. Adopting a continuous-recycle strategy replaces enrichment with reprocessing and can further lower fuel-cycle costs by roughly 30%. Coupling a sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) to supply transuranic’s further reduces the cost: SFR driver fabrication and reprocessing can account for the bulk of total costs, rendering microreactor-level variations comparatively minor. Meanwhile, pebble-bed designs propose ultra-high burnups and extended residence times, which could yield significant economic gains, contingent on demonstrated long-term TRISO fuel integrity. Waste handling also factors into the analysis. Deconsolidation—removing the inert moderator before disposal—can shrink spent-fuel volumes by more than 90%, easing repository demands. Continued R&D into advanced additive manufacturing, high-burnup TRISO performance, and streamlined waste management will be crucial for capitalizing on these potential cost advantages.","abstract_html":"This study provides a comprehensive techno-economic evaluation of a specific class of nuclear batteries—high-temperature gas-cooled 10 MW_th microreactors (HTGRs) with TRISO fuel in prismatic- and pebble-bed cores—using four composite moderator concepts (MgO–Be, MgO–BeO, MgO–YH, MgO–ZrH). These options are compared against a prismatic graphite benchmark, under both once-through and continuous-recycle fuel cycles. In once-through prismatic systems, hydride-based moderators can reduce overall fuel-cycle costs by up to about 20% relative to graphite, whereas beryllium-based moderators may remain 40–50% costlier due to higher raw material expenses. Shifting from prismatic blocks to pebble beds decreases moderator usage and increases burnup, thus making advanced moderator options more competitive. Adopting a continuous-recycle strategy replaces enrichment with reprocessing and can further lower fuel-cycle costs by roughly 30%. Coupling a sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) to supply transuranic’s further reduces the cost: SFR driver fabrication and reprocessing can account for the bulk of total costs, rendering microreactor-level variations comparatively minor. Meanwhile, pebble-bed designs propose ultra-high burnups and extended residence times, which could yield significant economic gains, contingent on demonstrated long-term TRISO fuel integrity. Waste handling also factors into the analysis. Deconsolidation—removing the inert moderator before disposal—can shrink spent-fuel volumes by more than 90%, easing repository demands. Continued R&D into advanced additive manufacturing, high-burnup TRISO performance, and streamlined waste management will be crucial for capitalizing on these potential cost advantages.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Balla, Sai Prasad"],"institution":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology","degree_name":"Master","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":"System Design and Management Program.","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Buongiorno, Jacopo"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-05","date_published":"2025-05","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:22:06Z","subjects":[],"languages":[],"rights":["In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted","Copyright retained by author(s)"],"rights_urls":["https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/162524","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Buongiorno, Jacopo"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["System Design and Management Program."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Balla, Sai Prasad"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2025-08-27T14:31:19Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2025-08-27T14:31:19Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2025-05"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master","Master of Science in Engineering and Management"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted","Copyright retained by author(s)"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/162524"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This study provides a comprehensive techno-economic evaluation of a specific class of nuclear batteries—high-temperature gas-cooled 10 MW_th microreactors (HTGRs) with TRISO fuel in prismatic- and pebble-bed cores—using four composite moderator concepts (MgO–Be, MgO–BeO, MgO–YH, MgO–ZrH). These options are compared against a prismatic graphite benchmark, under both once-through and continuous-recycle fuel cycles. In once-through prismatic systems, hydride-based moderators can reduce overall fuel-cycle costs by up to about 20% relative to graphite, whereas beryllium-based moderators may remain 40–50% costlier due to higher raw material expenses. Shifting from prismatic blocks to pebble beds decreases moderator usage and increases burnup, thus making advanced moderator options more competitive. Adopting a continuous-recycle strategy replaces enrichment with reprocessing and can further lower fuel-cycle costs by roughly 30%. Coupling a sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) to supply transuranic’s further reduces the cost: SFR driver fabrication and reprocessing can account for the bulk of total costs, rendering microreactor-level variations comparatively minor. Meanwhile, pebble-bed designs propose ultra-high burnups and extended residence times, which could yield significant economic gains, contingent on demonstrated long-term TRISO fuel integrity. Waste handling also factors into the analysis. Deconsolidation—removing the inert moderator before disposal—can shrink spent-fuel volumes by more than 90%, easing repository demands. Continued R&D into advanced additive manufacturing, high-burnup TRISO performance, and streamlined waste management will be crucial for capitalizing on these potential cost advantages."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["S.M."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Levelized Cost of Fuel (LCOF) studies for microreactors using TRISO fuel in hydride and beryllium-based composite moderators in open and closed fuel cycles"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Buongiorno, Jacopo"],"dc:contributor.department":["System Design and Management Program."],"dc:creator":["Balla, Sai Prasad"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-08-27T14:31:19Z"],"dc:date.available":["2025-08-27T14:31:19Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2025-05"],"dc:description.abstract":["This study provides a comprehensive techno-economic evaluation of a specific class of nuclear batteries—high-temperature gas-cooled 10 MW_th microreactors (HTGRs) with TRISO fuel in prismatic- and pebble-bed cores—using four composite moderator concepts (MgO–Be, MgO–BeO, MgO–YH, MgO–ZrH). These options are compared against a prismatic graphite benchmark, under both once-through and continuous-recycle fuel cycles. In once-through prismatic systems, hydride-based moderators can reduce overall fuel-cycle costs by up to about 20% relative to graphite, whereas beryllium-based moderators may remain 40–50% costlier due to higher raw material expenses. Shifting from prismatic blocks to pebble beds decreases moderator usage and increases burnup, thus making advanced moderator options more competitive. Adopting a continuous-recycle strategy replaces enrichment with reprocessing and can further lower fuel-cycle costs by roughly 30%. Coupling a sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) to supply transuranic’s further reduces the cost: SFR driver fabrication and reprocessing can account for the bulk of total costs, rendering microreactor-level variations comparatively minor. Meanwhile, pebble-bed designs propose ultra-high burnups and extended residence times, which could yield significant economic gains, contingent on demonstrated long-term TRISO fuel integrity. Waste handling also factors into the analysis. Deconsolidation—removing the inert moderator before disposal—can shrink spent-fuel volumes by more than 90%, easing repository demands. Continued R&D into advanced additive manufacturing, high-burnup TRISO performance, and streamlined waste management will be crucial for capitalizing on these potential cost advantages."],"dc:description.degree":["S.M."],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/162524"],"dc:publisher":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted","Copyright retained by author(s)"],"dc:rights.uri":["https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/"],"dc:title":["Levelized Cost of Fuel (LCOF) studies for microreactors using TRISO fuel in hydride and beryllium-based composite moderators in open and closed fuel cycles"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master","Master of Science in Engineering and Management"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:22:06Z"}