Supercritical-pressure direct-cycle light water reactor - concept and design
- Univ. of Tokyo (Japan)
The concept of a direct-cycle light water reactor operating at supercritical pressure was presented in other papers. The critical pressure of water is 22.1 MPa (221 bars). The density of water changes continuously above it, and the concept of boiling does not exist. The water coolant is heated up in the core and can be directly fed to turbines. The recirculation system and steam separators and dryers are no longer necessary. The feasibility of the supercritical-pressure direct-cycle light water reactor (SCLWR) was studied through the conceptual design of the core. The core is designed as a thermal neutron spectrum reactor. Stainless steel is chosen as the cladding material because Zircaloy loses its strength at a high temperature. The cladding thickness is 0.46 mm to withstand the high pressure of coolant. The fuel is enriched UO[sub 2]. The change of the effective multiplication factor with burnup was calculated using the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute's SRAC code system for a different fuel pitch-to-diameter (P/D) ratio in the triangular lattice with a coolant density of 0.725 g/cm[sup 3]. The 1.8 P/D ratio is optimum from the neutronic point of view. But a smaller P/D ratio is selected by thermal-hydraulics considerations.
- OSTI ID:
- 6983520
- 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
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COOLING SYSTEMS
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DESIGN
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FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRAULICS
MECHANICS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
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REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTOR CORES
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WATER COOLED REACTORS