Evaluation of nuclear knowledge management on light water reactor, high temperature gas-cooled reactor and fusion reactor: a case study of Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI)

Abstract

Within JAERI, funds invested in a 45-year study of light-water reactors (LWRs) totalled 4.2 b$ (billion dollars) for research, including human resources of 34,718 years. The benefits to taxpayers from this JAERI work were estimated to be about 6.3 b$, resulting in a favourable cost-benefit ratio of 1.5 (6.3/4.2). Funds invested in the 32-year study of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) were 1.5 b$ for R&D and 0.3 b$ (2966 years) for personnel. Commercialised HTGRs will result in a cost reduction of electricity during power generation and also of that for hydrogen energy production. Accumulating market creation of products (MCP) of JAERI from 2010 to 2050 is 0.29 b$ for the former and 1.2 b$ for the latter. The share of Fusion Reactors (FRs) is also described.