Steady-state reactor physics of the dual fluid reactor concept

Wang, Xiang; Macián‐Juan, Rafael

doi:10.1002/er.4171

Cited by 15 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…This is equivalent to a rise of the total cross section. The influence of those two factors is evident when comparing the DFRm design with the DFRs design already studied in the previous literature . As it is seen from Table , the coolant temperature coefficient is negative for the DFRm while it is slightly positive for the DFRs (see Table ), where the former effect dominates against the latter.…”

Section: Neutronics Analysismentioning

confidence: 57%

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Determination of the liquid eutectic metal fuel dual fluid reactor (DFRm) design – steady state calculations

et al. 2019

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Summary The dual fluid reactor (DFR) is a novel concept of a very high‐temperature (fast) reactor that falls off the classification of generation 4 international forum (GIF). DFR makes best of the two previous designs: molten salt reactor (MSR) and lead‐cooled fast reactor (LFR). In this paper, we present a new reactor design Dual Fluid Reactor metallic (DFRm) with the liquid eutectic U‐Cr metal fuel composition and the lead coolant of which general idea was patented recently. By performing the first steady state neutronic calculations for such a reactor (the neutron flux density as a function of energy, the burnup, the effective multiplication factor/reactivity), we show that this 250‐MWth reactor is critical, and that it can operate almost 20 years without refuelling. We also optimise the geometry (reflector thickness, fuel tubes pin pitch) with respect to the multiplication factor. The optimisation together with some other opportunities for the liquid metal fuel design (eg, the use of electromagnetic pumps to circulate the medium) allows DFRm to be of a small size. This rises economy of the construction as expressed nicely in terms of the energy return on invested (EROI) factor, which is even higher than for the molten salt fuel design (DFRs). Last but not least, we show that DFRm has all the (fuel, coolant, reflector) temperature coefficients negative, which is an important factor of the passive safety.

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Section: Neutronics Analysismentioning

confidence: 57%

“…The reactor is heterogenic (inhomogeneous) and allows breeding fuel cycle ( 239 Pu from 238 U or 233 U from 232 Th ). It has also an opportunity for the fuel reprocessing by destilation/rectification …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of the liquid eutectic metal fuel dual fluid reactor (DFRm) design – steady state calculations

et al. 2019

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“…The reason for this can be found in the study of Wang and Macian-Juan, 21 namely that, for neutrons in the energy range larger than 1 MeV, the fission-to-capture ratio of 238 U and Pu shows a relatively large divergence in the ENDF and JEFF libraries. The reason for this can be found in the study of Wang and Macian-Juan, 21 namely that, for neutrons in the energy range larger than 1 MeV, the fission-to-capture ratio of 238 U and Pu shows a relatively large divergence in the ENDF and JEFF libraries.…”

Section: Criticalitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…20,21 Compared with conventional heat-pipe reactor designs that use a solid-fuel layer over the heat pipe or solid-fuel tubes with graphite or sodium 22 filling the reactor, the liquid-fuel configuration of a LFHPR reduces the complication of the structure of the fuel layer over the heat pipe, reduces the fabrication cost for the fuel layer or fuel tubes, and reduces the risks of potential breaking failure. At the current stage of development, the molten salt fuel and liquid metallic eutectic fuel are the potential fuel candidates.…”

Section: Fuelmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neutron physics of the liquid‐fuel heat‐pipe reactor concept with molten salt fuel—Static calculations

et al. 2019

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Summary A liquid‐fuel heat‐pipe reactor (LFHPR) is a novel fast heterogeneous reactor developed by Harbin Engineering University, China, on the basis of liquid‐fuel reactor designs and the heat‐pipe reactor concept. In the concept, the reactor abandons the graphite moderator and keeps neither fuel tubes arranged in the graphite nor fuel rings around the heat pipe. Instead, the reactor applies molten salt fuels, molten metallic eutectic fuels, or other fuels in liquid form. The heat generated in the reactor is removed by the heat pipes driven by liquid metals. With this change, an LFHPR is much more flexible in design and application and able to achieve several advanced features compared with conventional heat‐pipe reactors. In this paper, we describe the general reactor design of an LFHPR, discuss its potential advantages, and give a preliminary verification of the neutron physical feasibility for the reference case, which uses molten salt as the fuel, by using both Monte Carlo and deterministic methods. Results show that the LFHPR yields a hard neutron spectrum that brings a very good neutron economy and is a promising application for breeding. From our approach, we conclude that the proposed LFHPR has a very high power density and high negative temperature feedback coefficient.

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Dual Fluid Reactor as a long‐term burner of actinides in spent nuclear fuel

et al. 2020

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Summary Motivated by some previous steady‐state burnup calculations (J. Sierchuła et al. IJER 43, 3692 (2019)) we study the Dual Fluid Reactor metallic (DFRm) eutectic design with different fuel compositions. It is just the spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from Light Water Reactors with reactor‐grade Plutonium as the fissile material. The isotope vector used here contains all important isotopes up to 243Am. Two SNF fuel compositions are studied. One of them is appended with some fraction (0.578%) of 235U (natural Uranium), while another is just the typical SNF without this extra isotope. In both cases one achieves fuel burnup above 225 MWd/kg, higher yield of average number of neutrons trueν¯ (up to 2.94), and higher conversion ratios (up to 1.42) as compared to previous DFRm Uranium fuel composition (enriched 13.44% Uranium). However, the application of a standard SNF with no natural Uranium requires the modification of core geometry as compared to a previous design. Our results also show a significant reduction of 237Np and Am isotopes while keeping high breeding capabilities. With SNF Plutonium fuel, as compared to just enriched Uranium fuel, one is able to extend more the DFRm operation time without fuel replacement so that this reactor may act as a 20‐year lasting nuclear battery.

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Steady-state reactor physics of the dual fluid reactor concept

Cited by 15 publications

References 14 publications

Determination of the liquid eutectic metal fuel dual fluid reactor (DFRm) design – steady state calculations

Determination of the liquid eutectic metal fuel dual fluid reactor (DFRm) design – steady state calculations

Neutron physics of the liquid‐fuel heat‐pipe reactor concept with molten salt fuel—Static calculations

Dual Fluid Reactor as a long‐term burner of actinides in spent nuclear fuel

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