Reaction rates in blanket assemblies of a fusion-fission hybrid reactor

To validate neutronics calculation for the blanket design of fusion-fission hybrid reactor,experiments for measuring reaction rates inside two simulating assemblies are performed.Two benchmark assemblies were developed for the neutronics experiments.A D-T fusion neutron source is placed at the center of the setup.One of them consists of three layers of depleted uranium shells and two layers of polyethylene shells,and these shells are arranged alternatively.The ²³⁸U capture reaction rates are measured using depleted uranium foils and an HPGe gamma spectrometer.The fission reaction rates are measured using a fission chamber coated with depleted uranium.The other assembly consists of depleted uranium and LiH shells.The tritium production rates are measured using the lithium glass scintillation detector which is placed in the LiH region of the assembly.The measured reaction rates are compared with the calculated ones predicted using MCNP code,and C/E values are obtained.     

Preliminary design of hybrid energy reactor and integral neutron experiments

We propose a preliminary design for a fusion–fission hybrid energy reactor (FFHER), based on current fusion science and technology (with some extrapolations forward from ITER) and well-developed fission technology. We list design rules and put forward a primary concept blanket, with uranium alloy as fuel and water as coolant. The uranium fuel can be natural uranium, LWR spent fuel, or depleted uranium. The FFHER design can increase the utilization rate of uranium in a comparatively simple way to sustain the development of nuclear energy. We study the interaction between the fusion neutron and the uranium fuel with the aim of to achieving greater energy multiplication and tritium sustainability. We also review other concept hybrid reactor designs. We design integral neutron experiments in order to verify the credibility of our proposed physical design. The combination of this program of research with the related thermal hydraulic design, alloy fuel manufacture, and nuclear fuel cycle programs provides the science and technology foundation for the future development of the FFHER concept in China.     

聚变-裂变混合堆水冷包层中子物理性能研究

研究直接应用国际热核聚变实验堆（ITER）规模的聚变堆作为中子驱动源,采用天然铀为初装核燃料,并采用现有压水堆核电厂成熟的轻水慢化和冷却技术,设计聚变-裂变混合堆裂变及产氚包层的技术可行性。应用MCNP与Origen2相耦合的程序进行计算分析,研究不同核燃料对包层有效增殖系数、氚增殖比、能量放大系数和外中子源效率等中子物理性能的影响。计算分析结果显示,现有核电厂广泛使用的UO₂核燃料以及下一代裂变堆推荐采用的UC、UN和U₉₀Zr₁₀等高性能陶瓷及合金核燃料作为水冷包层的核燃料,都能满足以产能发电为设计目标的新型聚变 裂变混合堆能量放大倍数的设计要求,但只有UC和U₉₀Zr₁₀燃料同时满足聚变燃料氚的生产与消耗自持的要求。研究结果对进一步研发满足未来核能可持续发展的新型聚变-裂变混合堆技术具有潜在参考价值。     

次临界能源堆包层中子学概念研究

介绍了次临界能源堆包层中子学概念研究进展。采用MCNP与ORIGENS耦合的输运燃耗程序MCORGS开展研究。利用一维模型改进了产氚区和屏蔽区的设计。产氚区采用多区分层布置,降低水对中子的吸收,大幅减少了Li₄SiO₄的用量。屏蔽区采用铁和水多区分层布置,包层泄漏中子数为10^-4量级,超导线圈沉积热小于60 kW,28 a内中子注量小于10²²m^-2。针对不同的铀水体积比（R_V）,探讨了相应的后处理策略。随着R_V的减小,需去除的裂变产物相应增加。建议采用R_V=2的物理设计,平常只需作燃料重整,每隔几十年作1次高温干法去除沸点在3 600 K以下的裂变产物即可。最后,参考国际热核实验堆几何结构,建立三维包层模型,进行了初步研究。     

Determination of the 238U capture to total fission ratio in alternate depleted uranium/polyethylene shells with D-T neutrons

Aiming at checking the conceptual design of the subcritical blanket in the fusion–fission hybrid reactor, an integral experiment was carried out on an alternate depleted uranium/polyethylene-shell setup with D-T neutrons using activation technique. 18 depleted uranium foils were placed at 90° direction to the incident D beam, and the distribution of the ²³⁸U capture to total fission ratio was determined by measuring the 277.6 keV γ ray generated by neutron capture of ²³⁸U and the 293.3 keV γ ray generated by fission of ²³⁵U and ²³⁸U. The ratios were generally between 1 and 2 in the depleted uranium shells, with relative uncertainties between 3.0% and 5.5%. The ratios were calculated by the MCNP4B code employing ENDF/B-VI nuclear data library, the discrepancies between calculations and experiments were all within 6%, and the average calculation to experiment(C/E) ratio was 0.998.     

聚变-裂变混合堆外中子源效应

聚变-裂变混合堆(FFHR)作为聚变驱动次临界系统(FDS),具有良好的物理性能,能够实现产能、氚增殖、嬗变核废料等功能。采用COUPLE程序研究了水冷混合堆包层的铀水比和中子倍增剂对中子源效率的影响。结果表明:包层能谱越硬,外中子源效率越高;适当加入中子倍增剂Be可使外中子源效率增加。研究结果对进一步改进聚变-裂变混合堆的概念设计具有一定的指导意义。     

Measurement and analysis of fission rates in depleted uranium and depleted uranium–polyethylene shells with neutrons from D-T reaction

To validate the concept design of a novel fusion–fission hybrid energy reactor, a depleted uranium assembly and a combined assembly of uranium and polyethylene were designed and assembled based on a depleted uranium spherical shell and a polyethylene spherical shell. The distribution of the fission rates for the depleted uranium and enriched uranium in the two assemblies, as a function of the distance of the detection position to the centre, was measured using a plate fission chamber bombarded by D-T neutrons. The addition of a polyethylene shell significantly changed the neutron spectrum; in particular, the neutron fluxes with energies of 1 MeV and lower were changed. Using MCNP5 and the attached libraries, the fission rate experiments were simulated, and the experimental configuration, including the wall of the experimental hall, was described in detail in the model. The fission rate distributions for depleted uranium and enriched uranium in the two assemblies were reproducible. The difference between the calculated results with different libraries and different tallies is as small as 1.0%. By considering the neutron flux, the fission rate and the C/E values, it is concluded that the fission rates of depleted uranium and enriched uranium induced by the fast neutrons were overestimated, and it is proposed that the fission parameters of uranium for fast neutrons should be re-evaluated, or the margin of the concept design should be enlarged, to make the concept effective.     

Neutronic analysis of PROMETHEUS reactor fueled with various compounds of thorium and uranium

In this study, neutronic performance of the DT driven blanket in the PROMETHEUS-H (heavy ion) fueled with different fuels, namely, ThO₂, ThC, UO₂, UC, U₃Si₂ and UN is investigated. Helium is used as coolant, and SiC is used as cladding material to prevent fission products from contaminating coolant and direct contact fuel with coolant in the blanket. Calculations of neutronic data per DT fusion neutron are performed by using SCALE 4.3 Code. M (energy multiplication factor) changes from 1.480 to 2.097 depending on the fuel types in the blanket under resonance-effect. M reaches the highest value in the blanket fueled with UN. Therefore, the investigated reactor can produce substantial electricity in situ. UN has the highest value of ²³⁹Pu breeding capability among the uranium fuels whereas UO₂ has the lowest one. ²³⁹Pu production ratio changes from 0.119 to 0.169 according to the uranium fuel types, and ²³³U production values are 0.125 and 0.140 in the blanket fueled with ThO₂ and ThC under resonance-effect, respectively. Heat production per MW (D,T) fusion neutron load varies from 1.30 to 7.89 W/cm³ in the first row of fissile fuel breeding zone depending on the fuel types. Heat production attains the maximum value in the blanket fueled with UN. Values of TBR (tritium breeding ratio) being one of the most important parameters in a fusion reactor are greater than 1.05 for all type of fuels so that tritium self-sufficiency is maintained for DT fusion driver. Values of peak-to-average fission power density ratio, Γ, are in the range of 1.390 and ∼1.476 depending on the fuel types in the blanket. Values of neutron leakage out of the blanket for all fuels are quite low due to SiC reflector. The maximum neutron leakage is only ∼0.025. Consequently, for all cases, the investigated reactor has high neutronic performance and can produce substantial electricity in situ, fissile fuel and tritium required for (D,T) fusion reaction.     

聚变-裂变混合能源堆一维计算模型燃耗分析

聚变-裂变混合能源堆包括聚变中子源和以天然铀为燃料、水为冷却剂的次临界包层,主要目标是生产电力。利用输运燃耗耦合程序系统MCORGS计算了混合能源堆一维模型的燃耗,给出了中子有效增殖因数k_eff、能量放大倍数M、氚增殖比TBR等物理量随时间的变化。通过分析能谱和重要核素随燃耗时间的变化,说明混合能源堆与核燃料增殖、核废料嬗变混合堆的不同特点。本文给出的结果可作为混合堆中子输运、燃耗分析程序校验的参考数据,为混合堆概念研究提供了基础数据。     

贫铀/聚乙烯交替球壳中裂变反应率的测量与分析

为校验次临界能源堆的概念设计,采用活化法在贫铀/聚乙烯球壳交替装置上开展14 MeV中子学积分实验。用HPGe探测器测量²³⁸U(n,f)及²³⁵U(n,f)反应的裂变碎片¹⁴³Ce衰变产生的293.3 keV特征γ射线,得到装置中与入射D粒子束成90°方向上的²³⁸U(n,f)及²³⁵U(n,f)反应率分布,相对不确定度为5.1%~6.9%。采用MCNP5程序在ENDF/B-Ⅵ库下进行模拟计算,计算结果较实验结果高约5%。     

Effect of Lithium Enrichment on the Tritium Breeding Characteristics of Various Breeders in a Fusion Driven Hybrid Reactor

Selection of lithium containing materials is very important in the design of a deuterium–tritium (DT) fusion driven hybrid reactor in order to supply its tritium self-sufficiency. Tritium, an artificial isotope of hydrogen, can be produced in the blanket by using the neutron capture reactions of lithium in the coolants and/or blanket materials which consist of lithium. This study presents the effect of lithium-6 enrichment in the coolant of the reactor on the tritium breeding of the hybrid blanket. Various liquid–solid breeder couples were investigated to determine the effective breeders. Numerical results pointed out that the tritium production increased with increasing lithium-6 enrichment for all cases.     

Fission-suppressed blankets for fissile fuel breeding fusion reactors

Two blanket concepts for deuterium-tritium (DT) fusion reactors are presented which maximize fissile fuel production while at the same time suppress fission reactions. By suppressing fission reactions, the reactor will be less hazardous, and therefore easier to design, develop, and license. A fusion breeder operating a given nuclear power level can produce much more fissile fuel by suppressing fission reactions. The two blankets described use beryllium for neutron multiplication. One blanket uses two separate circulating molten salts: one salt for tritium breeding and the other salt for U-233 breeding. The other uses separate solid forms of lithium and thorium for breeding and helium for cooling.Nuclear power is the sum of fusion (D + T 14 MeV neutron+ 3.5 MeV alpha) power plus additional power from neutron-induced reactions in the blanket.     

球床包层聚变—裂变混合堆热工安全分析

球床包层混合堆与板状元件包层混合堆相比较，前者在核燃料生产和安全方面可能具有更多的优越性。本应用ＴＨＥＲＭＩＸ程序和辅助程序对我国开发的托卡马克堆芯氮气冷却球床包层聚变－裂变合堆的包层进行了热工计算。计算中考虑了不同的燃料球材料及稳态，卸压和断流事故工况。计算结果表明，只要选用合适的燃料球材料和设置适当的控制保护系统，具有快速卸料罐的托卡马克堆芯氦气包层聚变－裂变混合堆的概念设计在安全上的可行的。     

聚变-裂变混合能源堆球模型参数敏感性分析

在聚变-裂变混合能源堆球模型基础上,使用蒙特卡罗方法中子学程序对中子源、铀水体积比、产氚区等相关参数进行了中子学的敏感性计算。分析了各参数对混合能源堆能量放大倍数M和氚增殖比TBR的影响,并总结其基本规律,为开展进一步的混合能源堆概念设计提供了重要参考。     

The neutronics studies of a fusion fission hybrid reactor using pressure tube blankets

In this paper, a fusion fission hybrid reactor used for energy producing is proposed based on the situation of nuclear power in China. The pressurized light water is applied as the coolant. The fuel assemblies are loaded in the pressure tubes with a modular type structure. The neutronics analysis is performed to get the suitable design and prove the feasibility. The energy multiplication and tritium self-sustaining are evaluated. The neutron load is also cared. From different candidates, the PWR spent fuel is selected as the feed fuel. The results show that the hybrid reactor can meet the expected reactor core lifetime of 5 years with 1000 MWe power output. Two ways are discussed including burning the discharged PWR spent fuel and burning the reprocessed plutonium. The energy multiplication is big enough and the tritium can be self-sustaining for both of the two ways. The neutron wall load in the operating time is kept smaller than the one of ITER. The way to use the reprocessed plutonium brings low neutron wall load, but also brings additional difficulties in operating the hybrid reactor. The way to use the discharged spent fuel is proposed to be a better choice currently.     

氦气、水和熔盐冷却的混合堆中子学性能研究

氦气、水、熔盐(Flibe)在强磁场中流动不存在严重的MHD问题,因此适合在基于磁约束的聚变-裂变混合堆中作为冷却剂.针对氦气、水、Flibe这3种冷却剂对混合堆包层中子学性能的影响进行研究,分析包层中能谱特点及燃料增殖特性.通过燃耗计算,研究氚增殖率(TBR)、能量倍增因子(M)、keff等随运行时间的变化.中子学输运采用三维蒙特卡罗程序MCNP.计算结果表明,不同的冷却剂对混合堆系统中子能谱影响很大:氦冷系统的能谱最硬,主要发生快中子裂变,氚增殖效果最好;水冷系统的能谱最软,产能最多,但需提高TBR;Flibe冷系统的能谱较硬,产能最少.     

Neutronic performance of new coolants in a fusion–fission (hybrid) reactor

Selection of coolant used in the fuel zone of a fusion–fission (hybrid) reactor affects the neutronic performance of the blanket much. Recently, two coolants namely, Flinabe and Li₂₀Sn₈₀ have been investigated to use in fusion reactors as tritium breeder and energy carrier due to their advantages of low melting point, low vapor pressure. In this study, neutronic performance of these coolants in a hybrid reactor using Canada Deuterium Uranium Reactor (CANDU) spent fuel was investigated for an operation period of 48 months. And also that of natural lithium and Flibe was also examined for comparison. Neutron transport calculations were conducted on a simple experimental hybrid blanket in a cylindrical geometry with the help of the SCALE4.3 system by solving the Boltzmann transport equation with the XSDRNPM code in 238 neutron groups and a S₈–P₃ approximation.     

Numerical Study on Effects of Fuel Mixture Fraction and Li-6 Enrichment on Neutronic Parameters of a Fusion–Fission Hybrid Reactor

This study presents the effects of mixture fractions of nuclear fuels (mixture of fissile–fertile fuels and mixture of two different fertile fuels) and ⁶Li enrichment on the neutronic parameters (the tritium breeding ratio, TBR, the fission rate, FR, the energy multiplication ratio, M, the fissile breeding rate, FBR, the neutron leakage out of blanket, L, and the peak-to-average fission power density ratio, Γ) of a deuterium–tritium (D–T) fusion neutron-driven hybrid blanket. Three different fertile fuels (²³²Th, ²³⁸U and ²⁴⁴Cm), and one fissile fuel (²³⁵U) were selected as the nuclear fuel. Two different coolants (pressurized helium and natural lithium) were used for the nuclear heat transfer out of the fuel zone (FZ). The Boltzmann transport equation was solved numerically for obtaining the neutronic parameters with the help of the neutron transport code XSDRNPM/SCALE4.4a. In addition, these calculations were performed by also using the MCNP4B code. The sub-limits of the mixture fractions and ⁶Li enrichment were determined for the tritium self-sufficiency. The considered hybrid reactor can be operated in a self-sufficiency mode in the cases with the fuel mixtures mixed with a fraction of equal to or greater than these sub-limits. Furthermore, the numerical results show that the fissile fuel breeding and fission potentials of the blankets with the helium coolant are higher than with the lithium coolant.     

Neutronic analysis of an inertial fusion energy breeder with SiCf/SiC

Neutronic performance of a blanket driven ICF (Inertial confinement fusion) neutron based on SiC_f/SiC composite material is investigated for fissile fuel breeding. The investigated blanket is fueled with ThO₂ and cooled with natural lithium or (LiF)₂BeF₂ or Li₁₇Pb₈₃ or ⁴He coolant. MCNP4B Code is used for calculations of neutronic data per DT neutron. Calculations have show that values of TBR (tritium breeding ratio) being one of the main neutronic paremeters of fusion reactors are greater than 1.05 in all type of coolant, and the breeder hybrid reactor is self-sufficient in the tritium required for the DT fusion driver. Calculations show that natural lithium coolant blanket has the highest TBR (1.298) and M (fusion energy multiplication) (2.235), Li₁₇Pb₈₃ coolant blanket has the highest FFBR (fissile fuel breeding ratio) (0.3489) and NNM (net neutron multiplication) (1.6337). ⁴He coolant blanket has also the best Γ (peek-to-average fission power density ratio) (1.711). Values of neutron leakage out of the blanket in all type of coolants are quite low due to SiC reflector and B₄C shielding.     

Design of coated fuel particles for a hybrid fusion-fission system

Designs have been developed for coated ThO₂ fuel particles to be used in a hybrid fusion-fission system that could be operated without reprocessing. The fresh fertile fuel particle would first be cycled through the blanket of a fusion reactor to breed ²³³U, which would then be ‘burned’ in a thermal fission reactor. The depleted fuel would then be refreshed in a second pass through the fusion reactor, and the process above repeated as many times as feasible. Designs of coated particles for up to three cycles through the hybrid system of reactors have been developed. The outer structural layer for these particles is made from vapor-deposited silicon carbide, because of its remarkable dimensional stability under fast neutron irradiation, and an inner layer of porous pyrocarbon is used to accommodate the buildup of gaseous reaction products inside the particle. The production of gaseous emission products from the interaction of high-energy fusion neutrons with coating materials and with the oxygen in the kernel contributes significantly to pressure vessel stresses in these coatings, whereas gaseous fission products alone dominate in conventional thermal reactors. The most stringent design for the three-cycle particle is identical in fuel loading to the reference fertile particle for an HTGR, which would constitute an ideal hybrid partner for the fusion reactor. Consideration is also given to coated-particle designs for the containment of the bred tritium used to fuel the D-T fusion reactor.