Conceptual design of Super FR for MA transmutation with axially heterogeneous core

Fukuda, Takanari; Yamaji, Akifumi

doi:10.1016/j.nucengdes.2020.110619

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 9 publications

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“…Besides thermal reactors, research about MA transmutation had also been carried out for fast reactors such as the sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) [ 10 ], supercritical water-cooled fast reactor (Super FR) [ 11 ], and lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) [ 12 ] because of their larger ratio of fission–capture cross-section, a higher neutron flux, and a negative neutron consumption. The research results show that although loading MAs in fast reactors would slightly weaken the fuel’s negative feedback effect, the MA transmutation performance is significantly improved.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Minor Actinides Transmutation Performance in a Closed Th–U Cycle Based on Molten Chloride Salt Fast Reactor

Chen

Cui

et al. 2022

Materials

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The molten chloride salt fast reactor (MCFR) with a closed Th–U fuel cycle is receiving more and more attention due to its excellent performance, such as high solubility of actinides, superior breeding capacity, and good inherent safety. In this work, the neutronics performances for different minor actinides (MA) loadings and operation modes are analyzed and discussed based on an optimized MCFR. The results indicate that online continuous reprocessing can significantly increase the transmutation performance of MAs. In addition, MA loadings have an obvious effect on the neutronics characteristics of the MCFR, and it is helpful for improving the MA transmutation capability and 233U breeding performance, simultaneously. When MA = 5 mol%, the average annual MA transmutation mass and incineration mass can achieve about 53 kg and 13 kg, respectively, and the corresponding annual net production of 233U is 250 kg. When MA = 33.5 mol%, the annual MA transmutation mass and incineration mass can be about 310 kg and 77 kg, respectively, and the corresponding annual net production of 233U is 349 kg. However, when the MA loadings exceed 10%, the corresponding keff will exceed 1.1 for decades, even if only Th is continuously fed online. The results also indicate that the transmutation ratio (TR) and incineration ratio (IR) of MA increase and reach maximum values in the first decades for all the different MA loadings, which means MA may be fed into the fuel salt to improve its transmutation capability. Moreover, though MA loading will increase the level of radiotoxicity of the core in the early stage of burnup, the radiotoxicity of MA will drop rapidly after a brief rise during the operation. It can also be found that the temperature coefficient of reactivity (TCR) of all different MA loadings can be negative enough to maintain the safety of the MCFR during the whole operation, although it decreases in the beginning of life (BOL) with the increasing MA loading. Furthermore, the evolution of an effective delayed neutron fraction (EDNF) is also researched and discussed, and the EDNF varies most significantly when loading MA = 35.5 mol%, with a range of 273 to 310 pcm over the entire 100 years of operation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Minor Actinides Transmutation Performance in a Closed Th–U Cycle Based on Molten Chloride Salt Fast Reactor

Chen

Cui

et al. 2022

Materials

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Scope of conceptual development of Resilient supercritical Light water-cooled reactor (SCWR-R)

Yamaji,

Matsuoka,

Sumida

et al. 2024

Nuclear Engineering and Design

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Minor Actinides Transmutation and 233U Breeding in a Closed Th-U Cycle Based on Molten Chloride Salt Fast Reactor

Chen

Xia

et al. 2022

Energies

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Long-lived minor actinides (MAs) are one of the primary contributors to the long-term radiological hazards of nuclear waste, and the buildup of MAs is hampering the development of nuclear power. The transmutation of MAs in reactors is regarded as a potential way to replace direct disposal to reduce the impact of MA on the environment and improve the utilization of fuel. Due to its superior features, such as outstanding neutron economy, no fuel assembly fabrication, high neutron flux, and especially online refueling and reprocessing, the molten chloride salt fast reactor (MCFR) is regarded as one of the potential reactors for MA incineration. In this work, MA transmutation capability and 233U breeding performance for an optimized MCFR have been evaluated in different scenarios. The results show that the MA transmutation capability and 233U breeding performance with online transuranic elements (TRU) and 232Th feeding scenario are improved significantly compared with the case in online 233U and 232Th feeding, when the initial MA loading is 5 mol%, the total mass of MA transmutation and MA incineration is 7160 kg and 1759 kg during the whole 100 years operation under online TRU and 232Th feeding scenario, and the corresponding average annual net production of 233U is 450 kg, however, the MA transmutation amount, MA incineration amount and average annual net production of 233U for online 233U and 232Th feeding scenario is 5298 kg, 1315 kg, and 249 kg, respectively. In addition, the research also shows that the increase in initial loading of MA has no obvious effect on the improvement of the 233U breeding performance but can improve the transmutation efficiency of MA under online TRU and 232Th feeding scenarios. Furthermore, if 233U is continuously extracted online from the core during the operation, the 233U breeding performance will be significantly improved, but it will deteriorate the safety performance, such as the fuel temperature coefficient of reactivity (TCR) and the effective delayed neutron fraction (EDNF), more importantly, it will also put forward higher requirements for the immature online reprocessing technology.

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Conceptual design of Super FR for MA transmutation with axially heterogeneous core

Cited by 3 publications

References 9 publications

Minor Actinides Transmutation Performance in a Closed Th–U Cycle Based on Molten Chloride Salt Fast Reactor

Minor Actinides Transmutation Performance in a Closed Th–U Cycle Based on Molten Chloride Salt Fast Reactor

Scope of conceptual development of Resilient supercritical Light water-cooled reactor (SCWR-R)

Minor Actinides Transmutation and 233U Breeding in a Closed Th-U Cycle Based on Molten Chloride Salt Fast Reactor

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