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Title: Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor for Improved Resource Utilization: Part I - Survey of Potential Improvements

Abstract

This document is an interim report under ACDA BOA AC9NX707, Task Order 80-03, which covers the evaluation of certain potential improvements in pressurized water reactor designs intended to enhance uranium fuel utilization. The objective of these evaluations is to seek advanced, non-retrofittable improvements that could possibly be commercialized by the end of the century, and, on the basis of a preliminary evaluation, to select compatible improvements for incorporation into a composite advanced pressurized water reactor concept. The principal areas of investigation include reduced parasitic absorption of neutrons (Task 1), reduced neutron leakage (Task 2), and alternative fuel design concepts (Task 3). To the extent possible, the advanced concept developed in an earlier study (Retrofittable Modifications to Pressurized Water Reactors for Improved Resource Utilization, SSA-128, October 1980) is used as a basis in developing the advanced composite concept. The reference design considered typical of present PWR commercial practice is the system described in RESAR-414, Reference Safety Analysis Report, Westinghouse Nuclear Energy Systems, October 1976.

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Southern Science Applications, Inc., Dunedin, FL (US)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE; U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (US)
OSTI Identifier:
802886
Report Number(s):
SSA-136
CNN: AC9NX707; TRN: US200301%%456
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 15 Sep 1981
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; 29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY AND ECONOMY; 22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS; ABSORPTION; DESIGN; EVALUATION; MODIFICATIONS; NEUTRON LEAKAGE; NEUTRONS; NUCLEAR ENERGY; PWR TYPE REACTORS; SAFETY ANALYSIS; URANIUM

Citation Formats

Turner, S.E., Gurley, M.K., Kirby, K.D., and Mitchell, W. III. Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor for Improved Resource Utilization: Part I - Survey of Potential Improvements. United States: N. p., 1981. Web. doi:10.2172/802886.
Turner, S.E., Gurley, M.K., Kirby, K.D., & Mitchell, W. III. Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor for Improved Resource Utilization: Part I - Survey of Potential Improvements. United States. doi:10.2172/802886.
Turner, S.E., Gurley, M.K., Kirby, K.D., and Mitchell, W. III. Tue . "Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor for Improved Resource Utilization: Part I - Survey of Potential Improvements". United States. doi:10.2172/802886. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/802886.
@article{osti_802886,
title = {Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor for Improved Resource Utilization: Part I - Survey of Potential Improvements},
author = {Turner, S.E. and Gurley, M.K. and Kirby, K.D. and Mitchell, W. III},
abstractNote = {This document is an interim report under ACDA BOA AC9NX707, Task Order 80-03, which covers the evaluation of certain potential improvements in pressurized water reactor designs intended to enhance uranium fuel utilization. The objective of these evaluations is to seek advanced, non-retrofittable improvements that could possibly be commercialized by the end of the century, and, on the basis of a preliminary evaluation, to select compatible improvements for incorporation into a composite advanced pressurized water reactor concept. The principal areas of investigation include reduced parasitic absorption of neutrons (Task 1), reduced neutron leakage (Task 2), and alternative fuel design concepts (Task 3). To the extent possible, the advanced concept developed in an earlier study (Retrofittable Modifications to Pressurized Water Reactors for Improved Resource Utilization, SSA-128, October 1980) is used as a basis in developing the advanced composite concept. The reference design considered typical of present PWR commercial practice is the system described in RESAR-414, Reference Safety Analysis Report, Westinghouse Nuclear Energy Systems, October 1976.},
doi = {10.2172/802886},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 1981},
month = {Tue Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 1981}
}

Technical Report:

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  • This report evaluates the enhanced resource utilization in an advanced pressurized water reactor (PWR) concept using a composite of selected improvements identified in a companion study. The selected improvements were in the areas of reduced loss of neutrons to control poisons, reduced loss of neutrons in leakage from the core, and improved blanket/reflector concepts. These improvements were incorporated into a single composite advanced PWR. A preliminary assessment of resource requirements and costs and impact on safety are presented.
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