Fast spectrum nuclear reactors with recycle significantly enhance the sustainability indices. Classed as a generation iv reactor, it features a fast neutron spectrum and closed fuel cycle for efficient conversion of fertile uranium and management of actinides. Conclusions in this paper we present the methodology used to simulate a fast spectrum molten salt reactor with the mpactctf coupled code system. Lead cooled fast reactor lfr development the idea of developing fast spectrum reactors with molten lead or lead alloy as a coolant is not a new one. Basic principles of fast neutron spectrum reactors. Faster test reactor preconceptual design report summary. It is highly integrated with online dry chemical processes based on selective oxide. Apr 28, 2006 onted with the data that you cant get enough neutrons from a thermalspectrum reactor to burn u238, they began to investigate what happens if you use a fastspectrum reactor. Advanced burner test reactor preconceptual design report. Enable a fast spectrum versatile test reactor that can begin operations by 2026.
With a unique focus on the capabilities of fast spectrum reactors to address nuclear waste transmutation issues, in addition to the wellknown capabilities of breeding new fuel, this volume describes how fast spectrum reactors contribute to the wide application of nuclear. The gfr system is a hightemperature heliumcooled fast spectrum reactor with a closed fuel cycle. Reynolds, which, along with the russian translation, served as a major reference book for fast reactors. With a unique focus on the capabilities of fast spectrum reactors to address nuclear waste transmutation issues, in addition to the wellknown capabilities of breeding new fuel, this volume describes how fast spectrum reactors contribute to the wide. The gascooled fast reactor gfr system is a nuclear reactor design which is currently in development. A fully optimized inherently safe batterytype fast reactor core with an active height and diameter of 150 cm 2. Neutron spectrum fast neutrons thermal capacity 30.
The technology was partly developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Expansion of the global reactor fleet has been slower than anticipated originally after tmi2 and chernobyl but has resumed. The tools within proteus work together, using the same interface. Oct 24, 2017 transmutation of longlived fission products llfps. It is for these reasons that fast reactors have been. A fast neutron reactor is a nuclear reactor in which the fission chain reaction is sustained by fast neutrons. Irradiation test reactors currently operated by doe are thermal reactors built prior to 1970. Nuclear power nuclear power plant types of reactors fast neutron reactor. Advances in small modular reactor technology developments. Inl versatile test reactor gets first expression of. The case made for the development of fast reactors made in the 1940s and 1950s is still relevant today, even though.
Why the molten salt fast reactor msfr is the best gen. Design is called the molten chloride salt, fast reactor mcsfr. For thermal reactors c fast spectrum reactors and their potential to contribute to the wide application of nuclear power systems, crucial to energy and proliferation concerns. Power shaping was achieved by varying the u235 enrichment in annular fuel zones of a. That means the neutron moderator slowing down in such reactors is undesirable. It is estimated that the faster test reactor will require approximately 11 to years from the issuance of cd0 to the core startup assuming funding and licensing are not limiting factors.
Sensitivity to nuclear data in a leadcooled fast reactor. Presents the current trends in the sustainable development of nuclear energy, nuclear design, data and cross section processing. A brief history of interactive fiction on the sinclair zx spectrum doctor spectrum. Fast reactors have the potential to enhance sustainability indices and correspond to crosscutting prerequisites for large scale introduction of nuclear energy in the worlds energy mix. But before i go too far, lets talk about the path not taken thorium. Elysiums design is a fast spectrum reactor meaning the majority of fissions are caused by highenergy fast neutrons. Preliminary considerations for fastspectrum, liquidmetal cooled nuclear reactor program for spacepower applications by gerald p. Concept of european molten salt fast reactor msfr prof elsa merle cnrsin2p3lpsc grenoble institute of technology uga france may 23, 2017 with the support of the national needs program and the in2p3 institute of cnrs, of uga and grenoble institute of technology, and of the evol and samofar euratom projects. Reactivity effects caused by radial power flattening in a. A fast neutron reactor fnr or simply a fast reactor is a category of nuclear reactor in which the fission chain reaction is sustained by fast neutrons carrying energies above 0. To fully harness our nuclear fuels, a breeder reactor can breed plutonium from uranium with fast spectrum neutrons, or breed u233 from thorium with thermal spectrum neutrons. The fast spectrum allows increasing the energy yield from natural uranium by a factor of sixty to seventy compared with thermal reactors, theoretically extending nuclear power progra mmes for thousands of years as well as. Fastspectrum reactors large variations are observed in the estimated cost of commercial fast reactor systems.
Thermal neutron spectrum reactors could in principle use a similar fuel and coolant salt system as that for the fast reactor. Fastspectrum fluoride molten salt reactor ffmsr with. Fast spectrum design options full range of coolant alternatives sodium and leadcooled fast reactors sfr and lfr heatpipe cooled fast spectrum micro reactors gascooled fast reactors gfr moltensaltfueled fast reactors msfr each concept uses different fuel forms sfr with metallic alloys or oxide fuels. Provides an authoritative overview of fast spectrum reactors and their potential to contribute to the wide application of nuclear power systems, crucial to energy and proliferation concerns. The fast spectrum allows increasing the energy yield from natural uranium by a factor of sixty to seventy compared with thermal reactors, theoretically extending nuclear power progra mmes for. The present work intends to clarify the possibility if the upu fast spectrum moltensalt reactors with predictable freezing behavior can be feasible by using selected mixtures of alkali fluorideuf 4 eutectic and alkali fluoridetruf 3 eutectic to make reasonable breeding, relying on the phase relationships provided experimentally or. Thermal reactors the most common type of nuclear reactor use slowed or thermal neutrons to keep up the fission of their fuel. Towards the thorium fuel cycle with molten salt fast reactors. What are some disadvantages of fast spectrum reactors. Generation iv fast reactors university of cambridge. Such a reactor needs no neutron moderator, but requires fuel that is relatively rich in fissile material when compared to that required for a thermalneutron reactor.
Thermal and fast spectrum molten salt reactors for actinide. With fast reactors we can generate 4000 years of electricity and other energy forms using a small refinement of 1970s technology. Fast neutron reactors use fast neutrons to cause fission in their fuel. The small size of these systems generally necessitates using an external control system which is based on leakage, andor absorptions of neu trons. Introduction the 4s supersafe, small and simple is a small sodium cooled reactor without onsite refuelling. They are the subject of this report while molten salt reactors with either a thermal or fast spectrum are considered in a companion report. Status of fast reactors nuclear energy encyclopedia. To fission significant portions of the actinides that are created in reactors, we need to put them in a reactor with a fast neutron spectrum a reactor that does not slow many neutrons to low energies. Molten salt reactors neutronic properties of f not favorable to the upu fuel cycle thorium 233u fuel cycle what is a msfr. Briefing vtr technical overview pdf file the ebrii reactor was a sodiumcooled fast reactor prototype that operated at the argonne national laboratory idaho site from 1963 to 1994. This paper presents a fast chloride reactor design which has many of the major features of contemporary designs but is based off open literature. Molten salt reactor molten salt liquid fuel also used as coolant based on the thorium fuel cycle with no solid i. Energy, abundantly produced and wisely used, has always been needed for the advancement of civilization.
Without fast reactors, nuclear fission will simply be a interesting footnote in human history. A fastneutron reactor or simply a fast reactor is a category of nuclear reactor in which the fission chain reaction is sustained by fast neutrons, as opposed to thermal neutrons used in thermalneutron reactors. Now, fast spectrum reactors they have a pretty hard neutron spectrum. Triso fuel and graphite qualification liquid fueled reactor molten salt fast, thermal and hybridspectrum designs metalcooled fast spectrum reactors micro reactors 4 xe100 pebblebed reactor 200 mwth areva htgr 12 x 50 mwe. Miller lewis research center summary a nuclear reactor suitable for spacepower applications should ideally be compact, in order to develope a reliable nuclear reactor for. Phenomena important in liquid metal reactor simulations. Assessment of missions and requirements for a new u. This high utilization of fuel can extend nuclear power programmes for thousands of years and provide significant. Preliminary considerations for fastspectrum, liquidmetal.
At fast energies the energies on the righthand side of the plot things start to look a lot better for plutonium. This enables conversion of fertile isotopes into energyproducing fuel, efficiently using nuclear fuel. The purpose of this paper is to point out why a simplecheap minimal reprocessing implementation of the european unions eus molten salt fast reactor msfr concept represents the most promising way to implement that technical fix. Fast spectrum reactors 9781441995711, 9781441995728. Until the last few centuries, productivity was severely limited because only human and animal power were available as prime movers. Method to reduce longlived fission products by nuclear. The sfr is designed for management of highlevel wastes and, in particular. With a unique focus on the capabilities of fast spectrum reactors to address nuclear waste transmutation issues, in addition to the wellknown capabilities of breeding new fuel, this volume describes how. The concept of fast spectrum molten salt reactor msfr.
The reactor is expected to be a version of the ge hitachi prism power reactor, which is based on the ebrii. Introduction to fast reactor physics fast energy spectrum neutron moderation impacts of fast energy spectrum fissiontocapture, enrichment, etc. The spectrum of neutron energies produced by fission vary significantly with certain reactor design. Reducing costs for designers of fast spectrum reactors. Execute an efficient approach to development of a conceptual design, cost and schedule estimate, and acquisition approach that would enable a positive decision cd1 in 2020 towards 2026 operational startup for the new fast spectrum test reactor. Comparison to lwr neutron physics nuclear data and validation typical power distributions anticipated uncertainties modern covariance and data adjustment. Pdf ornltm2011105 fast spectrum molten salt reactor. The present work intends to clarify the possibility if the upu fastspectrum moltensalt reactors with predictable freezing behavior can be feasible by using selected mixtures of alkali fluorideuf 4 eutectic and alkali fluoridetruf 3 eutectic to make reasonable breeding, relying on the phase relationships provided experimentally or. A reactor design is presented that is believed to be representative of. The previous figure illustrates the difference in neutron flux spectra between a thermal reactor and a fast breeder reactor. The content on the specific smrs is provided by the responsible institute or organization and is reproduced, with permission, in this booklet. Whats the difference between a thermal spectrum reactor.
Ornltm2011105 fast spectrum molten salt reactor options. It combines the advantages of fast spectrum systems for longterm sustainability of uranium resources and waste minimisation through fuel multiple reprocessing and fission of longlived actinides, with those of hightemperature systems high thermal cycle efficiency and industrial use of the. This high utilization of fuel can extend nuclear power programmes for thousands of years and provide significant improvements in nuclear waste management. Thermalspectrum and fastspectrum tr2016c 3h56m22s24f. Hightemperature, longlived, fast spectrum, fullyenriched reactors are of interest for power generation in space. Fastspectrum moltensalt reactor elysium industries. Thermal and fast spectrum molten salt reactors for. Fast spectrum reactors presents a detailed overview of worldwide technology contributing to the development of fast spectrum reactors. Fast reactors are better at it than thermal reactors the measure of how good a reactor is at breeding is the conversion ratio or exactly the same thing the breeding ratio, c c number of fissile items created number of fissile atoms consumed. Advanced burner reactors abrs based on a fast spectrum that transmute the recycled transuranics to produce energy while also reducing the long term radiotoxicity and decay heat loading in the repository.
Fast breeder reactors in the world and operating experiences. Thorium is about three times more common than uranium and consists of only one isotope, thorium232. Lewis research center s u mma r y the effect on criticality of flattening the radial power distribution in a small, reflectorcontrolled, fully enriched, fast spectrum nuclear reactor was calculated. But now you have a different problem, that of building a fastspectrum reactor. Relative to a thermal reactor, the high flux, high burnup, and high temperature conditions encountered in a fast spectrum reactor place severe requirements on the materials selected for core design.
Note that, the neutron spectra in fast reactors also vary significantly with a given reactor. Feb 17, 2018 there are advantages and disadvantages to every design. The development of a new coupled simulation capability for fast spectrum molten salt reactors is presented. Before discussing the neutronics, systems, and safety considerations involved in designing fast spectrum reactors, it is appropriate to follow the lead of wirtz 1 in sketching the bases for fast.
A mixture of nafkfuf4 eutectic and nafkftruf3 eutectic containing heavy elements as much as 2. The fast neutron spectrum allows fast reactors to largely increase the energy yield from natural uranium as compared to thermal reactors. The fission spectrum the energy distribution of these. The feasibility of upu fastspectrum molten salt reactors was certified under certain conditions using alkali fluoride matrixes containing uf 4 and puf 3. It does not object breeding but a stable operation without fissile makeup under practical contingencies. It would be relatively simplecheap to both build and operate. A year earlier, sudhinder thakur, an executive director at the nuclear power corporation of india npcil, told spectrum that construction on the 500mw fast breeder reactor, was expected to be. Department of energy advanced reactor research and. Thermal and fastspectrum molten salt reactors for actininde burning and fuel production charles w. Technology assessments background and current status from the initial conception of nuclear energy, it was recognized that full realization of the energy content of uranium would require the development of fast reactors with associated nuclear fuel cycles. This salt composition leads to a fast neutron spectrum in the core, as shown in fig. Reactivity can be regulated either by a removable reflector leakage control or. Save up to 80% by choosing the etextbook option for isbn.
Proteus simulation toolset for reactor physics and fuel. These efforts culminated in the novel complex of the molten salt fast breeder reactor msfbr using the fuel salt in nafkfuf 4 fertile salt and in nafkftruf 3 fissile salt with capability to satisfy prerequisites as a generation iv qualified reactor. While not boasting the highest operating temperature of proposed msr, elysiums reactor mcsfr will be built utilizing existing codequalified materials, and will have serviceable components. The objective of this study is to start the process outlined in strategy 2 for liquid metal fast spectrum reactors, that is, to understand the modeling needs of simulation codes. Operational and decommissioning experience with fast reactors. With a unique focus on the capabilities of fast spectrum reactors to address nuclear waste transmutation issues, in addition to the wellknown capabilities of breeding new fuel, this volume describes how fast. This is a key advantage of fast reactors, because fast reactors have a significant excess of neutrons due to low parasitic absorbtion, unlike pwrs or lwrs. The most us strategy is to explore the possibility of having some fastspectrum reactors to burn up the actinides. Optimizing the design of small fast spectrum batterytype. Fast reactor sfr system features a fastspectrum, sodiumcooled reactor and a closed fuel cycle for efficient management of actinides and conversion of fertile uranium. Although initially considered in the west in the 1950s, such technology was not pursued to completion because of anticipated difficulties. However, to avoid neutron poisoning by chlorine35 the chloride salts would have to be produced using isotopically purified chlorine37, which is not currently commercially available. Sustainable development of nuclear energy and the role of fast spectrum reactors. Recycling tru and u in selfsustaining conversion ratio of one gascooled fast reactors, starting either early in 2047 or late in 2067.
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