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[Present conceptions of the C.E.A. concerning] the development of fast neutron reactors in France; [Les conceptions actuelles du C.E.A. concernant] la filiere des reacteurs a neutrons rapides en France

Abstract

1 - The position of fast neutron reactors in the French nuclear energy program. In developing a program based on natural uranium, France will have an important stock of plutonium rich in higher isotopes. The existence of this plutonium and of the depleted uranium arising from the same reactors, has, as a logical consequence, the use of both in fast neutron reactors. Justified by this short term interest, the achievement of fast neutron reactors does, moreover, provide for a future necessity. 2 - Description of a fast neutron central power station of 1000 MWe. We indicate the characteristics of a future fast neutron central power station, plutonium fuelled, and sodium cooled. However uncertain these characteristics may be, they constitute a necessary guide in the orientation of our work. 3 - Studies carried out up to the present time. We give an outline of those studies, often very preliminary, which have given the characteristics cited above. The principal technical areas taken up are the following: - Neutronics (critical masses, breeding ratios, enrichments, flattening of the neutron flux, coefficients of reactivity, reactivity changes as a function of irradiation). - Dynamics, control, and safety. - Technology (design of the core and vessel, of  More>>
Authors:
Vendryes, G; Gaussens, J; [1]  Pasquer, R [2] 
  1. Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Saclay (France). Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires
  2. Electricite de France (EDF), 75 - Paris (France)
Publication Date:
Jul 01, 1964
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
CEA-R-2689
Resource Relation:
Other Information: 16 refs
Subject:
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; DOPPLER EFFECT; ECONOMIC ANALYSIS; FBR TYPE REACTORS; FUEL PINS; HARMONIE REACTOR; MASURCA REACTOR; MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT; MIXED OXIDE FUELS; NEUTRON FLUX FLATTENING; REACTIVITY COEFFICIENTS; REACTOR CORES; REACTOR KINETICS; REACTOR SAFETY; REGENERATION; SODIUM COOLED REACTORS; SPECIFICATIONS; STEAM GENERATORS
OSTI ID:
20668383
Research Organizations:
CEA Saclay, 91 - Gif-sur-Yvette (France)
Country of Origin:
France
Language:
English; French
Other Identifying Numbers:
TRN: FR05R2689107084
Availability:
Available from INIS in electronic form
Submitting Site:
FRN
Size:
40 pages
Announcement Date:
Dec 19, 2005

Citation Formats

Vendryes, G, Gaussens, J, and Pasquer, R. [Present conceptions of the C.E.A. concerning] the development of fast neutron reactors in France; [Les conceptions actuelles du C.E.A. concernant] la filiere des reacteurs a neutrons rapides en France. France: N. p., 1964. Web.
Vendryes, G, Gaussens, J, & Pasquer, R. [Present conceptions of the C.E.A. concerning] the development of fast neutron reactors in France; [Les conceptions actuelles du C.E.A. concernant] la filiere des reacteurs a neutrons rapides en France. France.
Vendryes, G, Gaussens, J, and Pasquer, R. 1964. "[Present conceptions of the C.E.A. concerning] the development of fast neutron reactors in France; [Les conceptions actuelles du C.E.A. concernant] la filiere des reacteurs a neutrons rapides en France." France.
@misc{etde_20668383,
title = {[Present conceptions of the C.E.A. concerning] the development of fast neutron reactors in France; [Les conceptions actuelles du C.E.A. concernant] la filiere des reacteurs a neutrons rapides en France}
author = {Vendryes, G, Gaussens, J, and Pasquer, R}
abstractNote = {1 - The position of fast neutron reactors in the French nuclear energy program. In developing a program based on natural uranium, France will have an important stock of plutonium rich in higher isotopes. The existence of this plutonium and of the depleted uranium arising from the same reactors, has, as a logical consequence, the use of both in fast neutron reactors. Justified by this short term interest, the achievement of fast neutron reactors does, moreover, provide for a future necessity. 2 - Description of a fast neutron central power station of 1000 MWe. We indicate the characteristics of a future fast neutron central power station, plutonium fuelled, and sodium cooled. However uncertain these characteristics may be, they constitute a necessary guide in the orientation of our work. 3 - Studies carried out up to the present time. We give an outline of those studies, often very preliminary, which have given the characteristics cited above. The principal technical areas taken up are the following: - Neutronics (critical masses, breeding ratios, enrichments, flattening of the neutron flux, coefficients of reactivity, reactivity changes as a function of irradiation). - Dynamics, control, and safety. - Technology (design of the core and vessel, of the sodium system, and of the fuel handling mechanisms). These technical studies are complemented by economic considerations. The choice of the optimum characteristics is related to the existence of power production programs, and, in these programs, to the existence of plutonium producing thermal reactors. It is shown how, in this context, the existence of plutonium should be taken into account, and, in addition which mechanisms relate the economics of this plutonium to the choice of the most important parameters of the breeder reactors. 4 - Prototype reactor. The interest in an intermediate stage consisting of a reactor of a power level of about 80 MWe is justified. Its essential characteristics are briefly presented. (authors) [French] 1 - Situation des reacteurs a neutrons rapides dans le programme d'energie nucleaire francais. En developpant un programme base sur l'uranium naturel, la France se trouvera dotee d'un stock important de plutonium riche on isotopes superieurs. L'existence de ce plutonium et de l'uranium appauvri provenant des memes reacteurs a pour consequence logique leur emploi dans des reacteurs a neutrons rapides. Justifiee par cet interet a court terme, la mise au point de reacteurs a neutrons rapides repond par ailleurs a une necessite pour l'avenir. 2 - Enonce des caracteristiques d'une centrale a neutrons rapides de 1000 MW el. Nous indiquons les caracteristiques d'une future centrale a neutrons rapides chargee au plutonium et refroidie au sodium. Si incertaines qu'elles soient, elles constituent un guide necessaire a l'orientation de nos travaux. 3 - Etudes effectuees a ce jour: Nous donnons un apercu des etudes souvent tres preliminaires qui ont permis de retenir les caracteristiques citees plus haut. Les principaux domaines techniques abordes sont les suivants: - Neutronique (masses critiques, taux de regeneration, enrichissements, aplatissement du flux de neutrons, coefficients de reactivite, evolution de la reactivite en fonction de l'irradiation), - Dynamique, controle et surete, - Combustible, - Technologie (conception du bloc-pile, des circuits de sodium, des dispositifs pour la manutention des assemblages). Ces etudes techniques se completent de considerations economiques. Le choix de caracteristiques optimales est lie a l'existence de programmes de production d'electricite et, dans ces programmes, a celle des reacteurs a neutrons thermiques producteurs de plutonium. On montre comment il y a lieu de tenir compte de l'existence du plutonium dans ce contexte, et quels sont les mecanismes qui rattachent l'economie de ce plutonium au choix des parametres essentiels des reacteurs surgenerateurs. 4 - Reacteur prototype: On justifie l'interet d'une etape intermediaire constituee par un reacteur d'une puissance voisine de 80 MWel. Ses caracteristiques essentielles sont brievement presentees. (auteurs)}
place = {France}
year = {1964}
month = {Jul}
}