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Large-scale nuclear power: Breeding and inherent safety

Conference · · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States)
OSTI ID:6659811
 [1]
  1. Research and Development Inst. of Power Engineering, Moscow (Russian Federation)

This Russian author discusses the requirements and aspects of achieving a large-scale nuclear power industry by acknowledging that civil and military nuclear engineering can allow the development of concepts that can meet the principal requirements of a large-scale power industry in a harmonious way: inherent safety, breeding, and economic efficiency. The author traces the work performed from the 1940's through the 1980's relative to breeding rates and safety characteristics of fast breeder reactors. Because of its fundamental physical and other properties, a fast reactor is simpler in design, control, and safety management than its thermal counterpart, to say nothing of its fuel and energy efficiency. There must be, of course, a serious reason for its expensiveness, and the authors conclusion is that the reactor is costly not because it is fast but because it is sodium cooled. It is for this same region that the advantages of fast reactors for safety have not fully materialized.

OSTI ID:
6659811
Report Number(s):
CONF-921102--
Journal Information:
Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States), Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States) Vol. 66; ISSN 0003-018X; ISSN TANSAO
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English