Design and economic implications of heterogeneity in an LMFBR core

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5913722

Orechwa, Y

Much emphasis is currently being placed in LMFBR design on reducing both the capital cost and the fuel cycle cost of an LMFBR to insure its economic competativeness without a rapid increase in the uranium prices. In this study the relationship between two core design options, their neutronic consequences, and their effect on fuel cycle cost are analyzed. The two design options are the selection of pin diameter and the degree of heterogeneity. In the case of a heterogeneous core, with a low sodium void reactivity worth this ratio of fertile internal blanket to driver assemblies is generally about 0.40. However, some advantages of cores with heterogeneity of 0.08 to 0.2 for a fixed pin diameter have been reported.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5913722
• Report Number(s): CONF-831047-16; ON: DE83014712
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210500* -- Power Reactors
Breeding
BREEDER REACTORS
COST
ECONOMICS
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FUEL CYCLE
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUEL PINS
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
OPTIMIZATION
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTORS
SPECIFICATIONS