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Title: Optimization of a heterogeneous fast breeder reactor core with improved behavior during unprotected transients

Abstract

Innovative Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors (SFRs) are currently being investigated by CEA, AREVA and EDF in the framework of a joint French collaboration, and the construction of a GEN IV prototype, ASTRID (Advanced Sodium Technical Reactor for Industrial Demonstration), is scheduled in the years 2020. Significant improvements are expected so as to improve the reactor safety: the goal is to achieve a robust safety demonstration of the mastering of the consequences of a Core Disruptive Accident (CDA), whether by means of prevention or mitigation features. In this framework, an innovative design was proposed by CEA in 2010. It aims at strongly reducing the sodium void effect, thereby improving the core behavior during unprotected loss of coolant transients. This design is strongly heterogeneous and includes, amongst others, a fertile plate, a sodium plenum associated with a B{sub 4}C upper blanket and a stepwise modulation of the fissile height of the core (onwards referred to as the 'diabolo shape'). In this paper, studies which were entirely carried out at EDF are presented: the full potential of this heterogeneous concept is thoroughly investigated using the SDDS methodology. (authors)

Authors:
; ; ;  [1]
  1. EDF R and D, 1 avenue du general de Gaulle, 92140 Clamart (France)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
American Nuclear Society, 555 North Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park, IL 60526 (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
22105980
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: ICAPP '12: 2012 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants, Chicago, IL (United States), 24-28 Jun 2012; Other Information: Country of input: France; 12 refs.; Related Information: In: Proceedings of the 2012 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants - ICAPP '12| 2799 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; AREVA NC; BORON CARBIDES; CEA; ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE; FBR TYPE REACTORS; FERTILE MATERIALS; LOSS OF COOLANT; MITIGATION; OPTIMIZATION; REACTOR CORE DISRUPTION; REACTOR CORES; REACTOR KINETICS; REACTOR SAFETY; SODIUM COOLED REACTORS; VOID COEFFICIENT

Citation Formats

Poumerouly, S., Schmitt, D., Massara, S., and Maliverney, B. Optimization of a heterogeneous fast breeder reactor core with improved behavior during unprotected transients. United States: N. p., 2012. Web.
Poumerouly, S., Schmitt, D., Massara, S., & Maliverney, B. Optimization of a heterogeneous fast breeder reactor core with improved behavior during unprotected transients. United States.
Poumerouly, S., Schmitt, D., Massara, S., and Maliverney, B. 2012. "Optimization of a heterogeneous fast breeder reactor core with improved behavior during unprotected transients". United States.
@article{osti_22105980,
title = {Optimization of a heterogeneous fast breeder reactor core with improved behavior during unprotected transients},
author = {Poumerouly, S. and Schmitt, D. and Massara, S. and Maliverney, B.},
abstractNote = {Innovative Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors (SFRs) are currently being investigated by CEA, AREVA and EDF in the framework of a joint French collaboration, and the construction of a GEN IV prototype, ASTRID (Advanced Sodium Technical Reactor for Industrial Demonstration), is scheduled in the years 2020. Significant improvements are expected so as to improve the reactor safety: the goal is to achieve a robust safety demonstration of the mastering of the consequences of a Core Disruptive Accident (CDA), whether by means of prevention or mitigation features. In this framework, an innovative design was proposed by CEA in 2010. It aims at strongly reducing the sodium void effect, thereby improving the core behavior during unprotected loss of coolant transients. This design is strongly heterogeneous and includes, amongst others, a fertile plate, a sodium plenum associated with a B{sub 4}C upper blanket and a stepwise modulation of the fissile height of the core (onwards referred to as the 'diabolo shape'). In this paper, studies which were entirely carried out at EDF are presented: the full potential of this heterogeneous concept is thoroughly investigated using the SDDS methodology. (authors)},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22105980}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2012},
month = {Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2012}
}

Conference:
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