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A high-breeding fast reactor with fission product gas purge/tube-in-shell metallic fuel assemblies

Description/Abstract

A high-breeding fast reactor with fission product gas purge/tube-in-shell metallic fuel assemblies is proposed. Its reactor doubling time is {lt}10 yr because fast reactors must have economical fuel breeding as well as economical electricity generation. The core has a high volume fraction of fuel ({gt}50%) and realizes a very hard neutron spectrum. Thus, a fast-breeding 670-MW (electric) reactor with a high breeding ratio (1.84) and a short reactor doubling time (6.7 yr) is proposed. The structure of the fuel assembly, its fabrication, and the fission product gas purging mechanism are assessed and the new fuel assembly concept is determined to be feasible. Purging of the fission product gas does not affect the shielding requirement and can be managed by a small-scale cover gas treatment system because of the good fission product retention characteristics of the sodium in the fuel assemblies. The entire reactor configuration, including the intermediate heat exchangers, was assessed utilizing conventional reactor components.

Authors: Hiraoka, T.; Sako, K.; Takano, H. (Japan Atomic Energy Research Inst., Tokai, Ibaraki (Japan)); Ishii, T.; Sato, M. (Mitsubishi Atomic Power Industries, Inc., Tokyo (Japan))
Publication Date:1991 Mar 01
OSTI Identifier: 5560940
Resource Type:Journal Article
Resource Relation:Journal Name: Nuclear Technology; (USA); Journal Volume: 93:3
Country of Publication:United States
Language:English
Format: Size: Pages: 305-329
Other Number(s):Journal ID: ISSN 0029-5450; CODEN: NUTYB
Subject:21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; BREEDER REACTORS; FUEL ASSEMBLIES; FABRICATION; FISSION PRODUCTS; REACTOR COMPONENTS; REACTOR CORES; SHIELDING; TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT; ISOTOPES; MATERIALS; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS; REACTORS
Update Date:2009 Dec 16

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