Neutronic and thermal design considerations for heat pipe reactors

Conference · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983 · Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5387672

Ranken, W A; Koenig, D R

SABRE (Space-Arena Baseline Reactor) is a 100-kW /SUB e/ , heat-pipe-cooled, beryllium-reflected, fast reactor that produces heat at a temperature of 1500 K and radiatively transmits it to hightemperature thermoelectric (TE) conversion elements. The use of heat pipes for core heat removal eliminates single-point failure mechanisms in the reactor cooling system, and provides minimal temperature drop radiative coupling to the TE array, as well as automatic, self-actuating removal of reactor afterheat. The question of how the failure of a fuel module heat pipe will affect neighboring fuel modules in the core is discussed, as is fission density peaking that occurs at the core/reflector interface. Results of neutronic calculations of the control margin available are described. Another issue that is addressed is that of helium generation in the heat pipes from neutron reactions in the core with the heat pipe fluid. Finally, the growth potential of the SABRE design to much higher powers is examined.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM
• OSTI ID: 5387672
• Report Number(s): CONF-830812-; TRN: 84-004809
• Journal Information: Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States), Vol. 1; Conference: 18. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, Orlando, FL, USA, 21 Aug 1983
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
SPACE POWER REACTORS
DESIGN
HEAT PIPES
AFTER-HEAT REMOVAL
BERYLLIUM
DENSITY
FAILURES
FISSION
HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS
HELIUM
NEUTRON REACTIONS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTOR CORES
THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION
VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
BARYON REACTIONS
CONVERSION
COOLING SYSTEMS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
ELEMENTS
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ENERGY SYSTEMS
FLUIDS
GASES
HADRON REACTIONS
METALS
MOBILE REACTORS
NONMETALS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEON REACTIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POWER REACTORS
RARE GASES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
REMOVAL
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