聚变堆氚增殖层中子学分析

D-T聚变堆包层的主要功能包括氚增殖、能量转换射层蔽等,包层中子学设计的主要原则是满足聚变堆的氚自持,一般要求包层氚增殖比TBR＞1.1.使用与时间有关的扩散理论和本征函数展开方法,研究不同几何线度、6Li丰度的LI2O、LiPb包层材料14MeV源下的系统通量、氚增殖比影响,及在不同6Li丰度下6Li、7Li造氚随时间变化的规律.计算中使用了30群截面数据,微观数据来自ENDF/B-VI及JEF-2.2.     

聚变堆增殖包层概念特征比较研究

在广泛调研国际上现有的聚变堆包层概念的基础上,对聚变堆包层的发展现状和需要解决的关键问题进行了总结。从工程可行性、氚增殖提取与控制特征、经济性以及安全和环境影响方面对固态和液态氚增殖剂包层进行了比较分析,系统阐述了各种包层概念的优缺点,从现实可行性与发展潜力方面为未来聚变堆包层概念发展提出建议。     

Problems of lead nuclear data in fusion blanket design

In an irradiation experiment using a LiAl/Pb assembly, we found out that the neutron flux inside the assembly calculated with JENDL-3.3 underestimates an experimental value in the 10–16 MeV region by around 30% and that in the 0.5–5 MeV region by around 15%, while the calculated flux with JEFF-3.1 overestimates the measurement in the 5–10 MeV region by around 20%. In order to reveal a reason of the discrepancy, problems of the nuclear data libraries for lead were investigated. As a result, the following problems of the evaluated libraries were pointed out: the cross-sections of the (n,2n) reaction in JENDL-3.3 for lead isotopes are too large and cause a significant underestimation of the neutron flux above 10 MeV, which appeared in the analysis of the above experiment. Inelastic scattering data for ²⁰⁸Pb in JENDL-3.3 reproduce previous experimental double-differential cross-section data most well. However, those for the other lead isotopes have some problems and cause a large underestimation of the neutron flux from 0.5 to 5 MeV. The reason of the overestimation in the energy region of 5–10 MeV with JEFF-3.1 is still unclear.     

基于D-T聚变中子源的双功能液态铅锂包层中子学实验

中国双功能锂铅包层(Dual Functional Lithium-Lead,DFLL)是由中国科学院合肥物质科学研究院核能安全技术研究所设计的用于聚变反应堆的液态包层.由于聚变反应堆氚增殖包层的设计高度依赖于中子计算,为验证DFLL包层设计中所使用的核数据库和仿真软件,建立了DFLL包层实验模块,并基于D-T聚变中子...     

Calculation of low-energy electron antineutrino spectra emitted from nuclear reactors with consideration of fuel burn-up

Nuclear reactors produce a great number of electron antineutrinos mainly from beta-decay chains of fission products (FP). Such neutrinos have energies mostly in MeV range. We are interested in neutrinos in a region of keV, since they may have information on fuel burn-up and may be detected in the future with advanced measurement technology. We calculate reactor antineutrino spectra especially in the low-energy region. In this work, we present neutrino spectra from various reactors such as typical pressurized water reactor and others types of reactors for comparison. Our result shows the electron antineutrino flux in the low-energy region increases with burn-up of nuclear fuel by accumulated nuclides with low Q values in beta-decay.     

Numerical simulation of a blanket cooling system for fusion reactor based on PWR conditions

The simulations of a blanket cooling system were presented to address the choice of cooling channel geometry and coolant input data which are related to blanket engineering implementation. This work was performed using computer aided design (CAD) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology. Simulations were carried out for the blanket module with a size of 0.6 m × 0.45 m in toroidal plane, and the nuclear heat was applied on the cooling system at P_n (neutron wall load) of 5 MW/m². The structure factors and input data of hydraulics were investigated to explore the optimal parameters to match the PWR condition. It was found that the inlet velocity of first wall (FW) channel should be within the range of 2.48–3.34 m/s. As a result, the temperature rise (TR) of the coolant in the FW channel would be 24–25 K. This leads to the remaining space for TR within the range of 15 K in the piping circuits. It also indicated that the FW plays an important role in TR (reaches 60% of the whole cooling system) due to its high level of P_n and heat flux in the zones. It was predicted that the nuclear heat inside blanket module could be removed completely by the piping circuits with an acceptable pipe bore and the related input data. Finally, a possible design range of cooling parameters was proposed in view of engineering feasibility and blanket neutronics design.     

Effect of electromagnetic coupling on MHD flow in the manifold of fusion liquid metal blanket

In fusion liquid metal (LM) blanket, magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) effects will dominate the flow patterns and the heat transfer characteristics of the liquid metal flow. Manifold is a key component in LM blanket in charge of distributing or collecting the liquid metal coolant. In this region, the complex three dimensional MHD phenomena will be occurred, and the velocity, pressure and flow rate distributions may be dramatically influenced. One important aspect is the electromagnetic coupling effect resulting from an exchange of electric currents between two neighboring fluid domains that can lead to modifications of flow distribution and pressure drop compared to that in electrical separated channels. Understanding the electromagnetic coupling effect in manifold is necessary to optimize the liquid metal blanket design.In this work, a numerical study was carried out to investigate the effect of electromagnetic coupling on MHD flow in a manifold region. The typical manifold geometry in LM blanket was considered, a rectangular supply duct entering a rectangular expansion area, finally feeding into 3 rectangular parallel channels. This paper investigated the effect of electromagnetic coupling on MHD flow in a manifold region. Different electromagnetic coupling modes with different combinations of electrical conductivity of walls were studied numerically. The flow distribution and pressure drop of these modes have been evaluated.     

Neutronic optimization for a blanket of the laser fusion reactor,SENRI-I

Neutronic calculations were performed to optimize the SENRI blanket in terms of energy multiplication as well as tritium breeding ratio. The blanket employs a thick ( 64-cm) Li layer as breeder/coolant. Three approaches were taken here to achieve the goal: (1) reduction of⁶Li in the lithium, (ii) replacement of the Li layer by a molten-salt (flibe) layer, and (iii) shipment of excess tritium to a nonbreeding blanket. It was found that the excess tritium produced in the SENRI blanket could be used effectively to obtain additional power by fueling a nonbreeding D-T reactor.     

Benchmark experiment on a model of the blanket of a fusion reactor with uranium neutron breeder

Moscow Engineering Physics Institute. I. V. Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy, Moscow. Translated from Atomnaya Énergiya, Vol. 71, No. 5, pp. 417–422, November, 1991.     

Thermal-hydraulic design of water-cooled pressure tube blanket for a fusion driven subcritical reactor

A Water-cooled Pressure Tube Energy production blanket (WPTE) for fusion driven subcritical reactor has been designed to achieve 3000 MW thermal power with self-sustaining tritium cycle. Pressurized water has great advantages in energy production; however the high pressure may cause some severe structural design issues. This paper proposes a new concept of water-cooled blanket. To solve the problem of the high pressure of the coolant, the pressure tube was adopted in the design and in the meantime, the thickness of the first wall can be significantly reduced as result of adopting pressure tube. The numerically simulating and calculating of temperature, stress distribution and flow analyses were carried out and the feasibility of using water as coolant was discussed. The results demonstrated the engineering feasibility of the water-cooled fusion–fission hybrid reactor blanket module.     

聚变驱动次临界堆双冷嬗变包层热工水力学参数设计与分析

聚变驱动次临界堆双冷嬗变包层是一个以氦气和液态金属LiPb为冷却剂,以嬗变核废料为主要目的的多功能包层。依据功率平衡模型对不同工况优化的基础上,对该包层热工系统参数进行了设计分析。采用三维商用计算流体力学程序对第一壁和高功率密度区中液态LiPb的流场进行数值模拟计算,给出了优化的典型热工水力参数。     

High burn-up operation and MOX burning in LWR; Effects of burn-up and extended cooling period of spent fuel on vitrification and disposal

Looking ahead to final disposal of high-level radioactive waste arising from further utilization of nuclear energy, the effects of high burn-up of light-water reactors (LWR) with UO₂ and MOX fuel and extended cooling period of spent fuel on waste management and disposal were discussed. It was assumed that the waste loading of waste glass is restricted by three factors: heat generation rate, MoO₃ content, and platinum group metal content. As a result of evaluation for effects of extended cooling period, the waste loading of waste glass from both UO₂ and MOX spent fuel could be increased in the current vitrification technology. For the storage of waste glass from MOX spent fuel with higher waste loading, however, those waste glass require long storage period prior to geological disposal because decay heat of ²⁴¹Am contributes significantly. Therefore, the evaluation of effects of Am separation on the storage period was performed. Furthermore, heat transfer calculation was carried out in order to evaluate the temperature of buffer material in a geological repository. The results showed, 70 to 90% of Am separation is sufficiently effective in terms of thermal feasibility of a repository.     

Long-term properties of reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steels for fusion reactor blanket system

Thermal aging properties of reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steel F82H was researched. The aging was performed at temperature ranging from 400 °C to 650 °C up to 100,000 h. Microstructure, precipitates, tensile properties, and Charpy impact properties were carried out on aged materials. Laves phase was found at temperatures between 550 and 650 °C and M₆C type carbides were found at the temperatures between 500 and 600 °C over 10,000 h. These precipitates caused degradation in toughness, especially at temperatures ranging from 550 °C to 650 °C. Tensile properties do not have serious aging effect, except for 650 °C, which caused large softening even after 10,000 h. Increase of precipitates also causes some degradation in ductility, but it is not critical. Large increase in ductile-to-brittle transition temperature was observed in the 650 °C aging. It was caused by the large Laves phase precipitation at grain boundary. Laves precipitates at grain boundary also degrades the upper-shelf energy of the aged materials. These aging test results indicate F82H can be used up to 30,000 h at 550 °C.     

Design and validation of breeder unit of helium-cooled pebble bed blanket for demo fusion reactor

In the framework of European helium-cooled pebble bed (HCPB) blanket development, an HCPB breeder unit based on the design of pebble beds between flat cooling plates is proposed for a DEMO fusion reactor. The performances of the designed breeder units are validated by supporting analyses. By applying the thermal boundary conditions obtained by neutronics simulations for the DEMO reactor, results of finite element calculations of the breeder unit are analyzed in views of thermal-hydraulics and thermal stress to identify the adherence to maximum temperatures in structural and functional materials and the abidance by the stress criterion imposed by the structural material. The layout of the internal meandering channels in the cooling plates is optimized by using numerical methods. Finally, possible improvements of the new designed breeder unit are proposed.