If the entire world was running on nuclear power, how long would it take for resources to run out?

current reactor designs have low "fuel utilization ratio." on order of less 8%.

meaning of u-235, (and subsequent pu-239 produced,) in reactor not undergo fission. sits in reactor , nothing.

(technical note: unless use weapons-grade uranium, of non-fissionable u-238 absorbs neutrons , transmutes plutonium. of pu gets fissioned, stays behind without being burned. in fact large amount of energy produced in nuclear reactors comes plutonium produced inside core , subsequently burned. )

reason low fuel util. ratio lot of "fission products" neutron absorbers. technical term "nuclear poisons." longer fuel remains in reactor more chain reaction goes until stops, though of u-235 has not been fissioned.

if use fuel reprocessing, can separate out fission products responsible of radioactivity of spent fuel, purify uranium , potentially reuse fuel.

in fact, because of plutonium content, spent fuel potentially more valuable freshly mined fuel is.

answer question, current known uranium reserves estimated last @ least 100 hundred years if 100% of the electricty in usa nuclear.

more exact figure difficult. main limiting factor amount of uranium can profitably mined...... depends on price of uranium. how long last depend on how people willing pay uranium. it's hard predict how electricity people use in future.

cost of uranium accounts 5-10% of total cost per kw-hour of nuke power. includes cost of handling , disposal if price of uranium quadrupled still competitive fossil fuels. become more competitive in next 50 years.

again, closed-loop spent fuel reprocessing extend supply dramatically. fuel may able reused 3-5 times.

furthermore several countries considering using element thorium possible fuel. thorium can't undergo fission itself. can used "breed" artificial isotope uranium-233, fissionable.

in same way uranium 238 can used breed plutonium, absorbing neutrons. u-233 doesn't exist naturally, it's man-made.

thorium 4 or 5 times more common in earth's crust uranium is. it's easier purify , process uranium. furthermore it's thought reactors using thorium/u-233 have better fuel utilization ratios.

i heard today coal resources last century, i'm interested know kind of potential longevity can expected nuclear power.

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