Medium-Power Lead-Alloy Reactors: Missions for This Reactor Technology

Journal Article · Wed Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 2004 · Nuclear Technology

OSTI ID:20837879

Todreas, Neil E ^[1]; MacDonald, Philip E ^[2]; Hejzlar, Pavel ^[1]; Buongiorno, Jacopo ^[3]; Loewen, Eric P ^[3]

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1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (United States)
2. INEEL0Bechtel BWXT Idaho (United States)
3. Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (United States)

A multiyear project at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology investigated the potential of medium-power lead-alloy-cooled technology to perform two missions: (1) the production of low-cost electricity and (2) the burning of actinides from light water reactor (LWR) spent fuel. The goal of achieving a high power level to enhance economic performance simultaneously with adoption of passive decay heat removal and modularity capabilities resulted in designs in the range of 600-800 MW(thermal), which we classify as a medium power level compared to the lower [{approx}100 MW(thermal)] and higher [2800 MW(thermal)] power ratings of other lead-alloy-cooled designs. The plant design that was developed shows promise of achieving all the Generation-IV goals for future nuclear energy systems: sustainable energy generation, low overnight capital cost, a very low likelihood and degree of core damage during any conceivable accident, and a proliferation-resistant fuel cycle. The reactor and fuel cycle designs that evolved to achieve these missions and goals resulted from study of the following key trade-offs: waste reduction versus reactor safety, waste reduction versus cost, and cost versus proliferation resistance. Secondary trade-offs that were also considered were monolithic versus modular design, active versus passive safety systems, forced versus natural circulation, alternative power conversion cycles, and lead versus lead-bismuth coolant.These studies led to a selection of a common modular design with forced convection cooling, passive decay heat removal, and a supercritical CO{sub 2} power cycle for all our reactor concepts. However, the concepts adopt different core designs to optimize the achievement of the two missions. For the low-cost electricity production mission, a design approach based on fueling with low enriched uranium operating without costly reprocessing in a once-through cycle was pursued to achieve a long operating cycle length by enhancing in-core breeding. For the actinide-burning mission three design variants were produced: (1) a fertile-free actinide burner, i.e., a single-tier strategy, (2) a minor actinide burner with plutonium burned in the LWR fleet, i.e., a two-tier strategy, and (3) an actinide burner with characteristics balanced to also favor economic electricity production.

• OSTI ID: 20837879
• Journal Information: Nuclear Technology, Journal Name: Nuclear Technology Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 147; ISSN 0029-5450; ISSN NUTYBB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
AFTER-HEAT REMOVAL
CAPITALIZED COST
CARBON DIOXIDE
DESIGN
ENRICHED URANIUM
FORCED CONVECTION
INEEL
LEAD ALLOYS
NATURAL CONVECTION
PLUTONIUM
REACTOR SAFETY
SPENT FUELS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS