Interim report on core physics and fuel cycle analysis of the pebble bed reactor power plant concept
Calculations were made to predict the performance of a pebble bed reactor operated in a mode to produce fissile fuel (high conversion or breeding). Both a one pebble design and a design involving large primary feed pebbles and small fertile pebbles were considered. A relatively short residence time of the primary pebbles loaded with /sup 233/U fuel was found to be necessary to achieve a high breeding ratio, but this leads to relatively high fuel costs. A high fissile inventory is associated with a low C/Th ratio and a high thorium loading, causing the doubling time to be long, even though the breeding ratio is high, and the fuel cost of electrical product to be high. Production of /sup 233/U fuel from /sup 235/U feed was studied and performances of the converter and breeder reactor concepts were examined varying the key parameters.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn. (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- OSTI ID:
- 5289736
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/TM-6142
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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