Integral fast reactor safety features

Conference · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5155906

Cahalan, J E; Kramer, J M; Marchaterre, J F; Mueller, C J; Pedersen, D R; Sevy, R H; Wade, D C; Wei, T Y.C.

The Integral Fast Reactor (IFR) is an advanced liquid-metal-cooled reactor concept being developed at Argonne National Laboratory. The two major goals of the IFR development effort are improved economics and enhanced safety. In addition to liquid metal cooling, the principal design features that distinguish the IFR are: (1) a pool-type primary system, (2) an advanced ternary alloy metallic fuel, and (3) an integral fuel cycle with on-site fuel reprocessing and fabrication. This paper focuses on the technical aspects of the improved safety margins available in the IFR concept. This increased level of safety is made possible by (1) the liquid metal (sodium) coolant and pool-type primary system layout, which together facilitate passive decay heat removal, and (2) a sodium-bonded metallic fuel pin design with thermal and neutronic properties that provide passive core responses which control and mitigate the consequences of reactor accidents.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5155906
• Report Number(s): CONF-880506-12; ON: DE88010012
• Resource Relation: Conference: Safety of next generation power reactors, Seattle, WA, USA, 1 May 1988
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
IFR REACTOR
REACTOR SAFETY
DESIGN BASIS ACCIDENTS
ECONOMICS
FISSION PRODUCT RELEASE
FUEL CANS
FUEL ELEMENTS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
MITIGATION
NEUTRON ABSORBERS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTOR CORE DISRUPTION
ACCIDENTS
BREEDER REACTORS
COOLING SYSTEMS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
EXPERIMENTAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
SAFETY
ZERO POWER REACTORS
220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety
220600 - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Research
Test & Experimental Reactors
210500 - Power Reactors
Breeding