Secure, Transportable, Autonomous Reactor (STAR) Concept

Technical Report · Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/15004197· OSTI ID:15004197

Chou, C K; Smith, C F; Brown, N W; Hassberger, J A; Halsey,

The Secure, Transportable, Autonomous Reactor (STAR), is a concept for a small, highly proliferation resistant, sealed-core nuclear power system with unique design features that make it appropriate for a variety of applications. STAR features include: Long lifetime sealed core installed at construction; 10 to 30 year core life, depending on design and size; No capability for on-site refueling, no user access to the fuel, no need for user to have fuel cycle technology; Reactor transported intact to the user site; Reactor core is replaced by vendor at end of life, spent fuel returns intact to supplier; Useable in remote areas for local power; Modular design for factory production to minimize cost; Simple operation with reliance on autonomous control and remote monitoring; and Robust, simple design with inherent safety features, high reliability and reduced maintenance. These features permit STAR to address a variety of potential applications, including: Deployment in developing countries with limited infrastructure; Remote/isolated location deployment (islands, oil fields, military installations, etc.); Central generation on small electric grids; Multi-unit central station use or distributed generation on large electric grids; and Alternative energy products (process heat, space heat, fresh water, hydrogen, etc.) in addition to electricity.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 15004197
• Report Number(s): UCRL-ID-149076; TRN: US1005133
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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CAPITALIZED COST
DESIGN
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ENERGY DENSITY
FAST NEUTRONS
FERTILE MATERIALS
FISSILE MATERIALS
FRESH WATER
FUEL CYCLE
LIQUID METALS
MAINTENANCE
MOLTEN SALT REACTORS
NUCLEAR ENERGY
NUCLEAR FUELS
NUCLEAR POWER
OIL FIELDS
REACTOR CORES
REMOTE AREAS
SAFETY
SPENT FUELS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES