Significance of breeding in fast nuclear reactors
Only breeder reactors--nuclear power plants that produce more fuel than they consume--are capable in principle of extracting the maximum amount of fission energy contained in uranium ore, thus offering a practical long-term solution to uranium supply problems. Uranium would then constitute a virtually inexhaustible fuel reserve for the world's future energy needs. The ultimate argument for breeding is to conserve the energy resources available to mankind. A long-term role for nuclear power with fast reactors is proven to be economically viable, environmentally acceptable and capable of wide scale exploitation in many countries. In this paper, various suggestions pertaining to the fuel fabrication route, fuel cycle economics, studies of the physics of fast nuclear reactors and of engineering design simplifications are presented. Fast reactors contain no moderator and inherently require enriched fuel. In general, the main aim is to suggest an improvement in the understanding of the safety and control characteristics of fast breeder power reactors. Development work is also being devoted to new carbide and nitride fuels, which are likely to exhibit breeding characteristics superior to those of the oxides of plutonium and uranium.
- Research Organization:
- Department of Physics, University of Baluchistan, Quetta
- OSTI ID:
- 6687838
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-831205-
- Journal Information:
- Alternative Energy Sources; (United States), Journal Name: Alternative Energy Sources; (United States); ISSN ALESD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
210500* -- Power Reactors
Breeding
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
BREEDER REACTORS
CARBIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DESIGN
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FUEL CYCLE
KINETICS
NITRIDES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
PNICTIDES
REACTOR KINETICS
REACTOR SAFETY
REACTORS
SAFETY
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM OXIDES