Design of a Mixed-Spectrum Reactor With Improved Proliferation Resistance for Long-Lived Applications
Abstract
Long-lived Small Modular Reactors are being promoted as an innovative way of catering to emerging markets and isolated regions. They can be operated continuously for decades without requiring additional fuel. A novel configuration of long-lived reactor core employs a mixed neutron spectrum, providing an improvement in nonproliferation metrics and in safety characteristics. Starting with a base sodium reactor design, moderating material is inserted in outer core assemblies to modify the fast spectrum. The assemblies are then shuffled once during core lifetime to ensure that every fuel rod is exposed to the thermalized spectrum. The Mixed Spectrum Reactor is able to maintain a core lifetime over two decades while ensuring the plutonium it breeds is below the weapon-grade limit at the fuel discharge. The main drawbacks of the design are higher front-end fuel cycle costs and a 58% increase in core volume, although it is alleviated to some extent by a 48% higher power output.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- Contributing Org.:
- Idaho National Laboratory, 2525 Fremont Ave, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, USA
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1476308
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-06CH11357
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 16; Journal Issue: 3; Journal ID: ISSN 1738-1894
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; 98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION; long-lived reactor; mixed-spectrum; neutron transport simulation; nonproliferation; reactor physics
Citation Formats
Abou-Jaoude, Abdalla, Erickson, Anna, and Stauff, Nicolas. Design of a Mixed-Spectrum Reactor With Improved Proliferation Resistance for Long-Lived Applications. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.7733/jnfcwt.2018.16.3.359.
Abou-Jaoude, Abdalla, Erickson, Anna, & Stauff, Nicolas. Design of a Mixed-Spectrum Reactor With Improved Proliferation Resistance for Long-Lived Applications. United States. https://doi.org/10.7733/jnfcwt.2018.16.3.359
Abou-Jaoude, Abdalla, Erickson, Anna, and Stauff, Nicolas. Sun .
"Design of a Mixed-Spectrum Reactor With Improved Proliferation Resistance for Long-Lived Applications". United States. https://doi.org/10.7733/jnfcwt.2018.16.3.359. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1476308.
@article{osti_1476308,
title = {Design of a Mixed-Spectrum Reactor With Improved Proliferation Resistance for Long-Lived Applications},
author = {Abou-Jaoude, Abdalla and Erickson, Anna and Stauff, Nicolas},
abstractNote = {Long-lived Small Modular Reactors are being promoted as an innovative way of catering to emerging markets and isolated regions. They can be operated continuously for decades without requiring additional fuel. A novel configuration of long-lived reactor core employs a mixed neutron spectrum, providing an improvement in nonproliferation metrics and in safety characteristics. Starting with a base sodium reactor design, moderating material is inserted in outer core assemblies to modify the fast spectrum. The assemblies are then shuffled once during core lifetime to ensure that every fuel rod is exposed to the thermalized spectrum. The Mixed Spectrum Reactor is able to maintain a core lifetime over two decades while ensuring the plutonium it breeds is below the weapon-grade limit at the fuel discharge. The main drawbacks of the design are higher front-end fuel cycle costs and a 58% increase in core volume, although it is alleviated to some extent by a 48% higher power output.},
doi = {10.7733/jnfcwt.2018.16.3.359},
journal = {Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology},
number = 3,
volume = 16,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Sep 30 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Sun Sep 30 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}
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