Abstract
In late 1964 the United States Atomic Energy Commission decided to undertake the development of the heavy-water-moderated nuclear power reactor as part of its overall programme for the development of advanced converter reactors. The inclusion of the heavy-water reactor concept was based on its indicated potential for achieving: efficient utilization of available fuel resources; generation of low cost electric power; feasibility of scale-up to very large single unit plant sizes for the dual purpose of generating power and desalting sea water. The excellent neutron economy inherent in heavy-water moderation allows a significant increase in the amount of power which can be generated from a given amount of ore. If one takes into account the amount of uranium required not only for burn-up but also to inventory new reactors in a rapidly expanding nuclear economy, heavy-water reactors show the potential of extracting one and a half to two times more power from the ore mined than light-water reactors. Such an improvement in dynamic fuel utilization will postpone the depletion of low cost uranium ore reserves, providing more time for the discovery of new ore resources and the development of economic fast breeder reactors. The excellent neutron economy of the heavy-water reactor
More>>
Trilling, C A
[1]
- Atomics International, Division of North American Aviation, Inc., Canoga Park, CA (United States)
Citation Formats
Trilling, C A.
Development of the heavy-water organic-cooled reactor. Status report from the United States of America.
IAEA: N. p.,
1967.
Web.
Trilling, C A.
Development of the heavy-water organic-cooled reactor. Status report from the United States of America.
IAEA.
Trilling, C A.
1967.
"Development of the heavy-water organic-cooled reactor. Status report from the United States of America."
IAEA.
@misc{etde_20385683,
title = {Development of the heavy-water organic-cooled reactor. Status report from the United States of America}
author = {Trilling, C A}
abstractNote = {In late 1964 the United States Atomic Energy Commission decided to undertake the development of the heavy-water-moderated nuclear power reactor as part of its overall programme for the development of advanced converter reactors. The inclusion of the heavy-water reactor concept was based on its indicated potential for achieving: efficient utilization of available fuel resources; generation of low cost electric power; feasibility of scale-up to very large single unit plant sizes for the dual purpose of generating power and desalting sea water. The excellent neutron economy inherent in heavy-water moderation allows a significant increase in the amount of power which can be generated from a given amount of ore. If one takes into account the amount of uranium required not only for burn-up but also to inventory new reactors in a rapidly expanding nuclear economy, heavy-water reactors show the potential of extracting one and a half to two times more power from the ore mined than light-water reactors. Such an improvement in dynamic fuel utilization will postpone the depletion of low cost uranium ore reserves, providing more time for the discovery of new ore resources and the development of economic fast breeder reactors. The excellent neutron economy of the heavy-water reactor also allows the achievement of appreciable burn-up with low enrichment fuel, with consequent low fuel cycle costs and therefore low energy generation costs. These low fuel cycle costs make the economics of this type of reactor rather insensitive to rising ore costs. They also make the concept well suited for the most economic production of the large quantities of heat required for water desalination. The use of individual pressure tubes for circulating the coolant through the reactor vessel lends itself to the development of a modular type design, which can be scaled up to very large single unit plant sizes by simply increasing the number of identical pressure tube modules and the number of coolant loops required. A second benefit of the pressure tube concept is that it is easily adaptable to the use of on-power refuelling, with the consequent potential of achieving high plant availability and optimizing the fuel management programme for maximum neutron economy. Many studies have been carried out in an attempt to optimize the selection of the coolant for a heavy-water-moderated reactor. The choice of an organic coolant for the US heavy-water reactor development programme offers several advantages. By limiting the heavy water to its function as moderator, its containment is required only at low temperatures and pressures, thus minimizing both inventory and losses of this expensive material. The compatibility of the organic coolant with uranium, plutonium, and thorium metals, and with their oxides and carbides provides for maximum flexibility in the selection of fuel material for this reactor. The HWOCR can therefore take full advantage of whichever fuel cycle in the long run demonstrates the most favourable economics. The low vapour pressure of the organic coolant and its compatibility with standard materials of construction provide for the design of low pressure primary coolant loops using carbon and low alloy steels while obtaining the thermodynamic efficiency of a superheat steam cycle. The low level of induced radioactivity normally present in the organic coolant permits normal contact maintenance of the primary coolant loops while the plant is in operation.}
place = {IAEA}
year = {1967}
month = {Jan}
}
title = {Development of the heavy-water organic-cooled reactor. Status report from the United States of America}
author = {Trilling, C A}
abstractNote = {In late 1964 the United States Atomic Energy Commission decided to undertake the development of the heavy-water-moderated nuclear power reactor as part of its overall programme for the development of advanced converter reactors. The inclusion of the heavy-water reactor concept was based on its indicated potential for achieving: efficient utilization of available fuel resources; generation of low cost electric power; feasibility of scale-up to very large single unit plant sizes for the dual purpose of generating power and desalting sea water. The excellent neutron economy inherent in heavy-water moderation allows a significant increase in the amount of power which can be generated from a given amount of ore. If one takes into account the amount of uranium required not only for burn-up but also to inventory new reactors in a rapidly expanding nuclear economy, heavy-water reactors show the potential of extracting one and a half to two times more power from the ore mined than light-water reactors. Such an improvement in dynamic fuel utilization will postpone the depletion of low cost uranium ore reserves, providing more time for the discovery of new ore resources and the development of economic fast breeder reactors. The excellent neutron economy of the heavy-water reactor also allows the achievement of appreciable burn-up with low enrichment fuel, with consequent low fuel cycle costs and therefore low energy generation costs. These low fuel cycle costs make the economics of this type of reactor rather insensitive to rising ore costs. They also make the concept well suited for the most economic production of the large quantities of heat required for water desalination. The use of individual pressure tubes for circulating the coolant through the reactor vessel lends itself to the development of a modular type design, which can be scaled up to very large single unit plant sizes by simply increasing the number of identical pressure tube modules and the number of coolant loops required. A second benefit of the pressure tube concept is that it is easily adaptable to the use of on-power refuelling, with the consequent potential of achieving high plant availability and optimizing the fuel management programme for maximum neutron economy. Many studies have been carried out in an attempt to optimize the selection of the coolant for a heavy-water-moderated reactor. The choice of an organic coolant for the US heavy-water reactor development programme offers several advantages. By limiting the heavy water to its function as moderator, its containment is required only at low temperatures and pressures, thus minimizing both inventory and losses of this expensive material. The compatibility of the organic coolant with uranium, plutonium, and thorium metals, and with their oxides and carbides provides for maximum flexibility in the selection of fuel material for this reactor. The HWOCR can therefore take full advantage of whichever fuel cycle in the long run demonstrates the most favourable economics. The low vapour pressure of the organic coolant and its compatibility with standard materials of construction provide for the design of low pressure primary coolant loops using carbon and low alloy steels while obtaining the thermodynamic efficiency of a superheat steam cycle. The low level of induced radioactivity normally present in the organic coolant permits normal contact maintenance of the primary coolant loops while the plant is in operation.}
place = {IAEA}
year = {1967}
month = {Jan}
}