Nuclear physicist Dr. Charles Till(1), who spent nearly 20 years at Argonne National Laboratory working on the Integral Fast Reactor (IFR), discussed the history and current state of nuclear reactors, as well as reasons for the cancellation of his IFR program.
Till said most of the world's nuclear reactors are based on the American "light" water (ordinary water) reactor, though Canada has constructed "heavy" water reactors to generate electricity. A major difference between these two types of reactors, explains Till, is American reactors require enriched uranium (U-235) to run, while Canadian reactors are fueled by natural uranium only.
Till also explained that nuclear reactors are not fuel efficient, using only a small fraction (less than 1%) of the mined uranium for fission and discarding the rest in spent fuel rods. He said the goal of his work on the IFR was, in part, to solve the enormous fuel inefficiency of nuclear reactors. According to Till, this new reactor used a process that allowed the fuel to be recycled. Unfortunately, the potential benefits of the IFR may never be realized since the research program was shut down in 1994 do to presidential budget cuts, he said.

1. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/reaction/interviews/till.html

Nuclear Recycling

Saturday's main guest, nuclear physicist Dr. Charles Till(1), helped develop the Integral Fast Reactor (IFR) at Argonne National Laboratory in the mid-'80s. The IFR, unlike conventional nuclear reactors, was designed to burn its own waste as fuel, as well as material from dismantled weapons. The graphic (click for larger image) shows the concept behind the IFR fuel recycling process.
Graphic:Argonne National Laboratory(2)

1. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/reaction/interviews/till.html
2. http://www.anlw.anl.gov/