The fast spectrum reactor concepts do not use internal core structure for neutron moderation and can have very high power densities. Presents the current trends in the sustainable development of nuclear energy, nuclear design, data and cross section processing. Presenting the state of the art of sodiumcooled fast reactors with closed fuel cycles, this book. Fast reactors are better at it than thermal reactors the measure of how good a reactor is at breeding is the conversion ratio or exactly the same thing the breeding ratio, c c number of fissile items created number of fissile atoms consumed. The gfr system is a hightemperature heliumcooled fastspectrum reactor with a closed fuel cycle. A fast neutron reactor is a nuclear reactor in which the fission chain reaction is sustained by fast neutrons. Department of energy advanced reactor research and. Recycling tru and u in selfsustaining conversion ratio of one gascooled fast reactors, starting either early in 2047 or late in 2067. What are some disadvantages of fast spectrum reactors. Fast spectrum reactors have the ability to utilize almost all of the energy in the natural uranium versus the 1% utilized in thermal spectrum systems. Presenting the state of the art of sodiumcooled fast reactors. Feb 17, 2018 there are advantages and disadvantages to every design.
In the short term there is little difference between various reactor types. Fast reactor sfr system features a fastspectrum, sodiumcooled reactor and a closed fuel cycle for efficient management of actinides and conversion of fertile uranium. Fast spectrum nuclear reactors with recycle significantly enhance the sustainability indices. Preliminary considerations for fastspectrum, liquidmetal cooled nuclear reactor program for spacepower applications by gerald p. Provides an authoritative overview of fast spectrum reactors and their potential to contribute to the wide application of nuclear power systems, crucial to energy and proliferation concerns. The development of a new coupled simulation capability for fast spectrum molten salt reactors is presented. Acceleratordriven systems ads and fast reactors fr in. Presents the current trends in the sustainable development of nuclear energy, nuclear. Each option follows from the historic msr program, but differ in salt and material selections, neutron energy spectrums, and business strategies. The latter are defined as plutonium and the socalled minor actinidesneptunium np, americium am, and curium cm. Nuclear power nuclear power plant types of reactors fast neutron reactor. Download and read free online fast spectrum reactors from springer.
Technology assessments background and current status from the initial conception of nuclear energy, it was recognized that full realization of the energy content of uranium would require the development of fast reactors with associated nuclear fuel cycles. With a unique focus on the capabilities of fast spectrum reactors to address nuclear waste transmutation issues, in addition to the wellknown capabilities of breeding new fuel, this volume describes how fast. Now, fast spectrum reactors they have a pretty hard neutron spectrum. Provides an authoritative overview of fast spectrum reactors and their. Thorium is the fuel we need for waste free, safe nuclear energy, say proponents. In addition to the fact that fission by fast neutrons produces a relatively large number of free neutrons, the fast neutrons are not absorbed as readily as thermal. The use of sodiumcooled fast reactors for effectively. The autonomous load following alf properties of fast spectrum nuclear reactors offer great potential for increased electric grid stability, reduction in control rod mechanism wear, and less operator action for small power transients experienced on a daily basis. Nov 20, 2017 ed pheil argues for the fast spectrum moltensalt reactor designed by elysium industries. For thermal reactors c fast spectrum molten salt reactors is presented. Fast spectrum reactors can be started with enriched uranium fuel, as was done in russia. The spectrum of neutron energies produced by fission vary significantly with certain reactor design. Analysis of irradiationinduced creep of stainless steel in fast spectrum reactors j. Before discussing the neutronics, systems, and safety considerations involved in designing fast spectrum reactors, it is appropriate to follow the lead of wirtz 1 in sketching the bases for fast.
Recycling tru in fast spectrum cores of actinide burner reactors tru in fertile free fuel. Request pdf fast spectrum reactors this book is a complete update of the. The important point is that it is only in a fast neutron spectrum that all actinides can be burned up, leading to very large differences between the waste products of this smfr reactor and that of thermal spectrum reactors over long times. Sodium fast reactors with closed fuel cycle 1st edition.
The most us strategy is to explore the possibility of having some fast. The sfr is designed for management of highlevel wastes and, in particular. A high flux of neutrons particularly fast neutrons in a test reactor is valuable for reducing the potentially lengthy irradiation times needed to confirm the damage resistance of both thermal and fast spectrum reactor materials when irradiated to high neutrondoses. With a unique focus on the capabilities of fast spectrum reactors to address nuclear waste transmutation issues, in addition to the wellknown capabilities of breeding new fuel, this volume describes how fast spectrum reactors contribute to the wide. A fast neutron reactor fnr or simply a fast reactor is a category of nuclear reactor in which the fission chain reaction is sustained by fast neutrons carrying energies above 0. Method to reduce longlived fission products by nuclear. The fast spectrum allows increasing the energy yield from natural uranium by a factor of sixty to seventy compared with thermal reactors, theoretically extending nuclear power progra mmes for thousands of years as well as. It is recommended in the mcnpx users manual that the user tries.
Advanced fabrication methods including remote fabrication. Ed pheil argues for the fastspectrum moltensalt reactor designed by elysium industries. Of the fast spectrum reactors, sfr 7,8 has been considered a more. To fission significant portions of the actinides that are created in reactors, we need to put them in a reactor with a fast neutron spectrum a reactor that does not slow many neutrons to low energies. New demonstration reactors have been constructed in russia bn800 with first criticality in june 2014 and india 600 mwe prototype fast breeder reactor. Sodium fast reactors with closed fuel cycle delivers a detailed discussion of an important technology that is being harnessed for commercial energy production in many parts of the world.
Fast spectrum materials testing reactor with variable energy. Miller lewis research center summary a nuclear reactor suitable for spacepower applications should ideally be compact, in order to develope a reliable nuclear reactor for. There are advantages and disadvantages to every design. Fast spectrum reactors presents a detailed overview of worldwide technology.
Another option is the profitable consumption of plutonium from thermal nuclear plants in a. From the back cover fast spectrum reactors presents a detailed overview of worldwide technology contributing to the development of fast spectrum reactors. The previous international conference on fast reactors and related fuel cycles. Sfrs have been built and operated in france, japan, germany, the u. An advanced sodiumcooled fast reactor core concept. Boltax westinghouse advanced reactors division, madison, pennsylvania 273 281 introduction data analysis residual stresses in irradiated fuel pin capsules and cladding discussion conclusions acknowledgements. The molten salt fast reactor as a fastspectrum candidate for. Can fast reactors speedily solve plutonium problems. Challenges and opportunities fr09 in kyoto, japan, on 711 december 2009. Conference on fast reactors and related fuel cycles. It combines the advantages of fastspectrum systems for longterm sustainability of uranium resources and waste minimisation through fuel multiple reprocessing and fission of longlived actinides, with those of hightemperature systems high thermal cycle efficiency and industrial use of the.
Both fast and thermal spectrum reactor designs are being developed, with fuels ranging. Oct 24, 2017 transmutation of longlived fission products llfps. Conference on fast reactors and related fuel cycles is one of the most important events. This paper presents a fast chloride reactor design which has many of the major features of contemporary designs but is based off open literature. The fast spectrum allows increasing the energy yield from natural uranium by a factor of sixty to seventy compared with thermal reactors, theoretically extending nuclear power progra mmes for. Fast spectrum molten salt reactor options info oak ridge. Molten salt reactor molten salt liquid fuel also used as coolant based on the thorium fuel cycle with no solid i. A sodiumcooled fast reactor is a fast neutron reactor cooled by liquid sodium the acronym sfr particularly refers to two generation iv reactor proposals, one based on existing lmfr technology using mox fuel, the other based on the metalfueled integral fast reactor. For thermal reactors c free online fast spectrum reactors from springer. The concept of fast spectrum molten salt reactor msfr. The primary feature of the msfr concept versus that of other older msr designs is the removal of the graphite moderator from the core graphite free core, resulting in a breeder reactor with a fast neutron spectrum and operated in the thorium fuel cycle, as described in section 2 of this paper.
Demonstrate acceptable performance of fast reactor fuels including recycled metallic fuels ultra high. Challenges and opportunities fr09, held on 711 december 2009 in kyoto, japan, was attended by a large number of participants and produced favourable results. The molten salt fast reactor as a fast spectrum candidate for thorium implementation 1 introduction background and motivation fast reactors fr have been developed in the early stages of nuclear technology for the purpose of breeding fissile isotopes from fertile materials, thus greatly extending the fuel. Sfrs are the most technologically developed of the six generation iv systems. It combines the advantages of fast spectrum systems for longterm sustainability of uranium resources and waste minimisation through fuel multiple reprocessing and fission of longlived actinides, with those of hightemperature systems high thermal cycle efficiency and industrial use of the. Pdf fuel cycle performance of fast spectrum molten salt. Neutronphysical simulation of fast nuclear reactor cores tuprints. The physics of a moderated system also generally make it harder to meet launch safety requirements. Towards the thorium fuel cycle with molten salt fast reactors. The previous figure illustrates the difference in neutron flux spectra between a thermal reactor and a fast breeder reactor.
Moderated reactors introduce complexity and uncertainty in how neutrons interact with the system, and how that translates into dynamic reactor operation. Assessment of missions and requirements for a new u. Generation iv fast reactors university of cambridge. The present work intends to clarify the possibility if the upu fastspectrum moltensalt reactors with predictable freezing behavior can be feasible by using selected mixtures of alkali fluorideuf 4 eutectic and alkali fluoridetruf 3 eutectic to make reasonable breeding, relying on the phase relationships provided experimentally or. Fast spectrum leads to 1ox longer neutron meanfree paths. Triso fuel and graphite qualification liquid fueled reactor molten salt fast, thermal and hybridspectrum designs metalcooled fast spectrum reactors micro reactors 4 xe100 pebblebed reactor 200 mwth areva htgr 12 x 50 mwe.
Fast breeder project is no longer a karlsruhe affair, it became a national effort to arrive independently at the competitive stage of reactors of the second generation, that is the fast breeders. The most us strategy is to explore the possibility of having some fastspectrum reactors to burn up the actinides. Preliminary considerations for fastspectrum, liquidmetal. While both share, in principle, the characteristics of a fast spectrum and consequently share also fuel, material and coolant. Molten salt reactors neutronic properties of f not favorable to the upu fuel cycle thorium 233u fuel cycle what is a msfr. Another option is the profitable consumption of plutonium from thermal nuclear plants in a fastspectrum breeder. A fastneutron reactor fnr or simply a fast reactor is a category of nuclear reactor in which the fission chain reaction is sustained by fast neutrons carrying energies above 0. Fastspectrum moltensalt reactor elysium industries ed. That means the neutron moderator slowing down in such reactors is undesirable. Note that, the neutron spectra in fast reactors also vary significantly with a given reactor. Reports produced after january 1, 1996, are generally available free via the u. Longterm operation of fast spectrum reactors on a oncethrough enriched uranium cycle is not sustainable. The disadvantage of thermal spectrum reactors is that commercially proven configurations fission only 3.
The gfr system is a hightemperature heliumcooled fast spectrum reactor with a closed fuel cycle. Overview of fast reactors technology and iaea activities in. Analysis of irradiationinduced creep of stainless steel. Key international experts contributing to the text include chaim braun, stanford university ronald omberg, pacific northwest national laboratory,a massimo. The autonomous load following alf properties of fastspectrum nuclear reactors offer great potential for increased electric grid stability, reduction in control rod mechanism wear, and less operator action for small power transients experienced on a daily basis. With a unique focus on the capabilities of fast spectrum reactors to. With a unique focus on the capabilities of fast spectrum reactors to address nuclear waste transmutation issues, in addition to the wellknown capabilities of breeding new fuel, this volume describes how. Fast spectrum reactors presents a detailed overview of worldwide technology contributing to the development of fast spectrum reactors.
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