The Application of U-Np Fuel and {sup 6}Li Burnable Poison for Space Reactors

Journal Article · Sat Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 2003 · Nuclear Technology

OSTI ID:20837804

Nikitin, Konstantin L; Saito, Masaki; Artisyuk, Vladimir V ^[1]

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1. Tokyo Institute of Technology (Japan)

The possible application of {sup 6}Li as a burnable poison and U-Np nitride as a fuel for space nuclear reactors has been studied. The analysis was performed for an infinite lattice with a leakage in the form of buckling and (U-Np)N fuel with 20% uranium enrichment. The combination of {sup 7}Li as a coolant and {sup 6}Li as a burnable poison results in a favorable criticality behavior during burnup. The parameters taken into consideration include the different fuel and coolant compositions, the form of absorber material, and the various absorber mass and concentrations. It was found that absorption properties of {sup 6}Li allow reaching the burnup value up to 67 GWd/tHM while reactivity swing is comparable with {beta}{sub eff}. The corresponding reactor lifetime is {approx}10 to 30 yr.

• OSTI ID: 20837804
• Journal Information: Nuclear Technology, Journal Name: Nuclear Technology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 144; ISSN 0029-5450; ISSN NUTYBB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
ABSORPTION
BUCKLING
BURNABLE POISONS
BURNUP
COOLANTS
CRITICALITY
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
LEAKS
LIFETIME
LITHIUM 6
LITHIUM 7
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
NITRIDES
NUCLEAR FUELS
REACTIVITY
REACTORS
SPACE
SPACE VEHICLES
USES