THE THORIUM BISMUTHIDE BREEDER BLANKET
A discussion is preseated of those systems which might be considered for use as breeder blankets for the Liquid Metal Fueled Reactor under development at Brookhaven. The system thought to have the greatest potential as a Th-U/sup 233/ breeder consists of a dispersion of thorium bismuthide intermatallic compouad (ThBi/sub 2/) in liquid bismuth. The properties of the thorium bismuthide blanket are described and are used to present a unified blanket system. Results of slurry preparation by various techniques for laboratory use are presented and their applicability to a full size blanket is discussed. Thorium bismuthide particles can be prepared and retained in a nearly equiaxed shape but conditions are described under which less favorable shapes occur. The rate of particle growth was studied under various conditions of temperature and flow and indicated that particles 100 mu or less in diameter can be maintained under anticipated steady state conditions. Effects of additives on the crystal habit and growth rates of the particles were studied and are discussed. Problems associated with the design and operation of pumped test loops for this system are described. The resuits of such loop experiments are given. Possible methods are described for the processing of the slurry for the removal of the bred Pa/sup 233/ and U/sup 233/. A simple pyrometallurgical process seems feasible if the bred products can be transferred quickly to the liquid bismuth phase. The transfer of bred products has been studied isothermally and with temperature operations which dissolve all or part of the solids. The properties of the blanket system are used to predict the operating behavior of a full size blankat. Problems which remain to be solved are discussed and their effects on the usefulness of the system are predicted. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, N.Y.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-12-015009
- OSTI ID:
- 4315641
- Report Number(s):
- A/CONF.15/P/460
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BISMUTH COMPOUNDS
BLANKETS
BREEDING
CONFERENCE
DISPERSIONS
EFFICIENCY
FUEL SLURRIES
GRAIN SIZE
IMPURITIES
IN PILE LOOPS
LIQUID FLOW
LIQUID METAL FUEL
LIQUIDS
MATERIALS TESTING
MEASURED VALUES
METALLURGY
PHYSICS
PROTACTINIUM 233
PUMPS
PYROLYSIS
REACTORS
REPROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLIDS
STABILITY
TEMPERATURE
THORIUM
THORIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM 233