Experimental breeder reactor-II: 20 yr of operating experience

Journal Article · · Nucl. Saf.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6815317

Buschman, H W

For 20 yr the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II), a liquid-metal fast breeder reactor power plant, has operated successfully. Comprised of a reactor building, sodium boiler building, and power plant, the EBR-II has operated as an integral power plant and fuel-cycle facility, as a fuels and materials irradiation facility, and as a component and systems test bed. Over 750 experimental subassemblies containing more than 11,000 individual fuel or structural specimens have been irradiated. Testing of new fuel concepts and LMFBR plant components is in progress, and testing of fuel response to off-normal conditions of breached cladding and mild overpower transients is well under way. Off-normal EBR-II testing includes plant loss-of-flow and loss-of-heat sink tests, and some without reactor scram demonstrate inherently safe characteristics of the EBR-II that can be extrapolated to other plant designs. A new program proposed by Argonne National Laboratory will utilize the EBR-II and other onsite facilities to demonstrate an integral breeder reactor-fuel recycle system.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., Idaho Falls, ID
• OSTI ID: 6815317
• Journal Information: Nucl. Saf.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Saf.; (United States) Vol. 26:4; ISSN NUSAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ACCIDENTS
ANL
BOILERS
BREEDER REACTORS
COOLING SYSTEMS
EBR-2 REACTOR
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
EXPERIMENTAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FUEL CYCLE
FUEL ELEMENTS
IRRADIATION
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
LOSS OF FLOW
MATERIALS TESTING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OPERATION
PIPES
POWER REACTORS
PRIMARY COOLANT CIRCUITS
PUMPS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTOR CORES
REACTOR FUELING
REACTOR OPERATION
REACTOR SAFETY
REACTOR SAFETY EXPERIMENTS
REACTOR SHUTDOWN
REACTORS
REPROCESSING
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
SAFETY
SCRAM
SECONDARY COOLANT CIRCUITS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SHUTDOWNS
SODIUM COOLED REACTORS
STEAM GENERATORS
TESTING
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US NRC
US ORGANIZATIONS
VAPOR GENERATORS