Core Power Limits For A Lead-Bismuth Natural Circulation Actinide Burner Reactor
The Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory and Massachusetts Institute of Technology are investigating the suitability of lead-bismuth cooled fast reactors for producing low-cost electricity as well as for actinide burning. The design being considered here is a pool type reactor that burns actinides and utilizes natural circulation of the primary coolant, a conventional steam power conversion cycle, and a passive decay heat removal system. Thermal-hydraulic evaluations of the actinide burner reactor were performed to determine allowable core power ratings that maintain cladding temperatures below corrosion-established temperature limits during normal operation and following a loss-of-feedwater transient. An economic evaluation was performed to optimize various design parameters by minimizing capital cost. The transient power limit was initially much more restrictive than the steady-state limit. However, enhancements to the reactor vessel auxiliary cooling system for transient decay heat removal resulted in an increased power limit of 1040 MWt, which was close to the steady-state limit. An economic evaluation was performed to estimate the capital cost of the reactor and its sensitivity to the transient power limit. For the 1040 MWt power level, the capital cost estimate was 49 mills per kWhe based on 1999 dollars.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC07-99ID-13727
- OSTI ID:
- 912154
- Report Number(s):
- INEEL/JOU-00-01537; NEDEAU; TRN: US0800289
- Journal Information:
- Nuclear Engineering and Design, Vol. 213, Issue 2-3; ISSN 0029-5493
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Design of an Actinide Burning, Lead or Lead-Bismuth Cooled Reactor that Produces Low Cost Electricity
Design of an Actinide-Burning, Lead or Lead-Bismuth Cooled Reactor that Produces Low-Cost Electricity
Related Subjects
ACTINIDE BURNER REACTORS
ACTINIDES
AFTER-HEAT REMOVAL
CAPITALIZED COST
COOLING SYSTEMS
ECONOMICS
ELECTRICITY
EVALUATION
FAST REACTORS
INEEL
NATURAL CONVECTION
POOL TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR VESSELS
SENSITIVITY
STEAM
TRANSIENTS
actinide burning
lead-bismuth
reactors