Principles of Fast-Reactor Physics

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1963 · Magyar Fizikai Folyoirat

OSTI ID:4022479

Szabo, F. ^[1]

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1. Central Research Inst. for Physics, Budapest (Hungary)

Fast reactors represent the only system able to create efficiently new fissionable material from ²³⁸U and ²³²Th thus increasing the world's energy reserve in the first case by a factor of 140. One of the interactions of the ²³⁸U + n system is radiative capture, which ultimately yields the alpha-emitting, fissionable ²³⁹Pu nucleus. The breeding ratio of thermal reactors is reduced by absorption in the moderator and the coolant and by neutron escape. Fast-reactor cores do not contain moderators. Decrease of the microscopic cross section must be compensated for by increased enrichment. Only liquid metals and alloys are considered satisfactory coolants for fast reactors. Criticality problems in reflected and unreflected systems were examined; the critical masses of Jezebel, Godiva, Popsy, and Topsy are tabulated. Unlike thermal reactors, the fast reactor' s spectrum is not limited by the Maxwellian distribution; it should be known to the designer from calculation or direct measurements. The fuel composition affects the neutron economy. The choice of good absorbers for use in the control system is more limited than in the case of thermal reactors; only the relatively expensive ¹⁰B is actually used. The hazards presented by the operation of fast reactors are considered difficult to evaluate at present.

• Research Organization: Central Research Inst. for Physics, Budapest (Hungary)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP); US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
• DOE Contract Number: NONE
• NSA Number: NSA-18-019325
• OSTI ID: 4022479
• Journal Information: Magyar Fizikai Folyoirat, Journal Name: Magyar Fizikai Folyoirat Vol. 11; ISSN 0025-0104
• Country of Publication: Hungary
• Language: Hungarian

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
ABSORPTION
ALLOYS
ALPHA DECAY
BORON 10
BREEDING
CAPTURE
CONTROL SYSTEMS
COOLANTS
CRITICALITY
CROSS SECTIONS
DISTRIBUTION
EFFICIENCY
ENRICHMENT
FAST NEUTRONS
FISSIONABLE MATERIALS
FUELS
GAMMA RADIATION
INTERACTIONS
JEZEBEL
LIQUID METAL COOLANT
LOSSES
MASS
MODERATORS
NEUTRONS
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
OPERATION
PLUTONIUM 239
POPSY
REACTOR CORE
REACTOR SAFETY
REACTORS
REFLECTORS
SPECTRA
TABLES
THERMAL NEUTRONS
THORIUM 232
TOPSY
URANIUM 238