Safety in a fast burning reactor for long-lived actinides extracted from radioactive wastes

Шмелев, А. Н.; Kulikov, G. G.; Глебов, В. Б.; Tsurikov, D. F.; Morozov, A. G.

doi:10.1007/bf00761432

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…The equation differs from similar inverse-hour equation (2) in one-point model (1) by the second summand that describes the role of neutron reflector. Besides, the first summand of the inverse-hour in one-point model contains mean prompt neutron lifetime in the reactor as a whole, including neutron reflector, while the first summand of the inverse-hour equation in the model with additional group of delayed neutrons (two-point model) contains prompt neutron lifetime Λ in the reactor core without neutron reflector, and the second summand contains prompt neutron lifetime in the reflector Λ .…”

Section: Two-point Modelmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…The positive role to be played by the radiogenic lead, that is, lead with a dominant content of isotope 208 Pb, as a coolant for fast reactor safety was first noted in works [2,3], where a possibility for significant improvement of the coolant temperature reactivity coefficient was shown. Later, some possibilities for improving other neutron-physical and thermal-hydraulic parameters of power fast reactors were considered at usage of the radiogenic lead as a coolant [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Improving Nuclear Safety of Fast Reactors by Slowing Down Fission Chain Reaction

Kulikov

Шмелев

Апсэ

2014

International Journal of Nuclear Energy

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Light materials with small atomic mass (light or heavy water, graphite, and so on) are usually used as a neutron reflector and moderator. The present paper proposes using a new, heavy element as neutron moderator and reflector, namely, “radiogenic lead” with dominant content of isotope208Pb. Radiogenic lead is a stable natural lead. This isotope is characterized by extremely low micro cross-section of radiative neutron capture (~0.23 mb) for thermal neutrons, which is smaller than graphite and deuterium cross-sections. The reflector-converter for a fast reactor core is the structure capable of transforming some part of prompt neutrons leaked from the core into the reflected neutrons with properties similar to those of delayed neutrons, that is, sufficiently large contribution to reactivity at the level of effective fraction of delayed neutrons and relatively long lifetime, comparable with lifetimes of radionuclides-emitters of delayed neutrons. It is evaluated that the use of radiogenic lead makes it possible to slow down the chain fission reaction on prompt neutrons in the fast reactor. This can improve the fast reactor safety and reduce some requirements to the technologies used to fabricate fuel for the fast reactor.

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Section: Two-point Modelmentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving Nuclear Safety of Fast Reactors by Slowing Down Fission Chain Reaction

Kulikov

Шмелев

Апсэ

2014

International Journal of Nuclear Energy

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“…It is known that 208 Pb lead isotope has high inelastic scattering threshold and, therefore, weakly moderates neutrons within hard energy region while its absorption cross-section within soft energy region is small (Shmelev et al 1991(Shmelev et al , 1992(Shmelev et al , 1992a(Shmelev et al , 1992b(Shmelev et al , 1993. When radiogenic lead with predominant concentration of 208 Pb or lead enriched with 208 Pb isotope is used for the purpose instead of natural lead then application of physically thick reflector representing neutron moderator with high atomic weight as well as reflector with improved reflecting properties becomes possible.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Safety features of fast reactor with heavy atomic weight weakly neutron absorbing reflector

Kulikov¹,

Шмелев²,

Апсэ³

et al. 2020

NUCET

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The purpose of the present study is the justification of the possibility of improving fast reactor safety by surrounding reactor cores with reflectors made of material with special neutron physics properties. Such properties of 208Pb lead isotope as heavy atomic weight, small neutron absorption cross section, and high inelastic scattering threshold result in certain peculiarities in neutron kinetics of the fast reactor equipped with 208Pb reflector, which can significantly enhance reactor safety. The reflector will also make possible generation of additional delayed neutrons characterized by the “dead” time. This will improve the resistibility of the fission chain reaction to stepwise reactivity excursions and exclude prompt supercriticality. Let us note that generation of additional delayed neutrons can be shaped by reactor designers. The relevance of the study amounts to the fact that generation of additional delayed neutrons in the reflector will make it possible mitigating the consequences of a reactivity accident even if the introduced reactivity exceeds the effective fraction of delayed neutrons. At the same time, the role of the fraction of delayed neutrons as the maximum permissible reactivity for reactor safety is depreciated. Scientific originality of the study pertains to the fact that the problem of yield of additional neutrons with properties close to normal delayed neutrons, has not been posed before. The authors suggest a new method for enhancing safety of fast reactors by increasing the fraction of delayed neutrons due to the time delay of prompt neutrons during their transfer in the reflector. In order to benefit from the expected advantages, the following combination is acceptable: lead enriched by 208Pb is used as a neutron reflector while natural lead or other material (sodium, etc.) is used as a coolant in the reactor core.

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Peculiarities of the fast reactor with reflector from lead-208

Kulikov

Шмелев

Kulikov

et al. 2018

J. Phys.: Conf. Ser.

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Safety in a fast burning reactor for long-lived actinides extracted from radioactive wastes

Cited by 5 publications

References 1 publication

Improving Nuclear Safety of Fast Reactors by Slowing Down Fission Chain Reaction

Improving Nuclear Safety of Fast Reactors by Slowing Down Fission Chain Reaction

Safety features of fast reactor with heavy atomic weight weakly neutron absorbing reflector

Peculiarities of the fast reactor with reflector from lead-208

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