液态熔盐堆运行安全特性初步研究

液态燃料反应堆与固态燃料反应堆相比,原理上有较大不同。液态熔盐堆中由于燃料流动带走缓发中子先驱核在堆外衰变导致堆芯反应性降低,且裂变产物在堆外回路中衰变也会引起一回路发热。本文使用熔盐堆中子动力学程序Cinsf1D探讨2 MW熔盐堆的临界动力学特性和安全特性,研究零功率临界下不同熔盐流速启泵和停泵导致的缓发中子先驱核流失所需改变的控制棒棒位。同时还计算了2 MW恒定功率情况下稳态运行及降低流速时一回路温度分布,并模拟了2 MW额定功率下停泵事件。停泵后由于缓发中子损失减少反应堆功率先缓慢增加,然后迅速降低到接近余热水平。停泵后堆芯温度缓慢增加后稳定在安全值以内,说明熔盐堆具有本征安全性。     

基于MOREL2.0对石墨慢化熔盐堆的稳态分析

熔盐堆采用熔融的氟化盐混合物作为燃料和堆芯的冷却剂,由于燃料的流动,熔盐堆在中子学和热工水力学方面与传统固体燃料反应堆有着较大区别。本文基于熔盐堆分析程序MOREL2.0对钍基熔盐堆（TMSR）初步堆芯设计方案进行了稳态计算分析,结果表明：燃料流动对缓发中子先驱核的分布影响较大,并导致169 pcm反应性损失;随燃料在外部回路中滞留时间的增加,k_eff降低,80 s后趋于平稳;TMSR具有负的入口燃料温度系数,具有固有安全性。     

氢化锆慢化熔盐堆钍铀转换性能初步分析

中子能谱对钍基燃料在熔盐堆中的利用效率及温度反馈系数等安全问题有较大影响,所以对熔盐堆新型慢化剂的研究具有重要意义。本工作基于SCALE6计算程序,对不同几何栅元结构的氢化锆栅元组件在熔盐堆的物理性能进行了研究,分别计算了中子能谱、钍铀转换比、~(233)U浓度、总温度反馈系数以及燃耗等中子物理参量。结果表明,减小六边形栅元对边距或者增加熔盐占栅元体积比可以增加钍铀转换比和改善温度反应性系数;当加入的氢化锆慢化剂体积份额为0.1时就可以将熔盐堆~(233)U初始浓度降低到2.5×10~(-2)以内;氢化锆慢化熔盐堆在超热谱条件下,其~(233)U初装载量和超铀核素产量较小,同时堆芯较为紧凑。     

核电厂无源启动中子探测器选型与试验研究

为监测核电厂首循环装料、停堆以及启动过程中的堆芯状态,国内外核电厂一般在堆芯引入2个一次中子源组件,但一次中子源均为国外进口,存在进口受限的问题。为解决此问题,研究首循环取消一次中子源组件,采用燃料组件自发裂变产生的中子作为启动用中子源。燃料组件自发裂变产生的中子强度远低于一次中子源。针对以上情况,需在堆外采用更高灵敏度的探测器进行中子注量率的监测。本文在分析各种高灵敏度探测器基本原理的基础上,给出高灵敏度中子探测器的选型建议,并对其性能进行了试验验证,试验结果表明:3He正比计数管即使在γ剂量率大于0.1 Gy/h时,设置合适的甄别电压,也可以有效甄别γ噪声,试验验证的最大γ剂量率为1.0 Gy/h。      

熔盐堆主回路系统氙的动力学特性研究

基于Mathematica7.0为熔盐堆（MSR）主回路系统建立了一套含流动项及在线去除功能的氙（135Xe）的动态分布数值分析程序,针对2?MW MSR的一种设计方案,分析了不同流量、不同启停堆功率、不同在线去除效率情况下135Xe浓度随时间的动态变化特性。结果表明:相较于静态燃耗模型,流动燃耗模型的135Xe带来的负反应性要低约32.2%;额定流量下主回路系统135Xe浓度分布均匀,只有当主回路系统体积流量小于2.24 cm3·s-1时,流动效应才会对主回路系统内135Xe浓度分布有显著影响;当鼓泡系统的在线去除份额约为0.1%时可以使堆芯135Xe带来的负反应性降低至-38.3 pcm?（1 pcm =10-5）,其总的去除效率可以达到86.0%;不同功率水平瞬时停堆工况下,堆芯135Xe浓度单调下降,停堆约50 h后135Xe基本消失,相当于引入+254 pcm反应性,停堆过程无碘坑出现,停堆后再启堆过程不必担心碘坑启动的问题。135Xe去除效率对整个系统135Xe总量有一定影响,在去除份额从0.0001%~20%的变化范围内,135Xe的总活度与静态燃耗模型相比相应增加了0.67%~8.75%。      

Development of a steady state analysis code for a molten salt reactor

The molten salt reactor (MSR), which is one of the ‘Generation IV’ concepts, can be used for transmutation, and production of electricity, hydrogen and fissile fuels. In this study, a single-liquid-fueled MSR is designed for conceptual research, in which no solid material is present in the core as moderator, except for the external reflector. The fuel salt flow makes the MSR neutronics different from that of conventional reactors using solid fuels, and couples the flow and heat transfer strongly. Therefore, it is necessary to study the core characteristics with due attention to the coupling among flow, heat transfer and neutronics. The standard turbulent model is adopted to establish the flow and heat transfer model, while the diffusion theory is used for the neutronics model, which consists of two-group neutron diffusion equations for fast and thermal neutron fluxes, and balance equations for six groups of delayed neutron precursors. These two models which are coupled through the temperature and heat source are coded in a microcomputer program. The distributions of the velocity, temperature, neutron fluxes, and delayed neutron precursors under the rated condition are obtained. In addition, the effects of the inflow temperature, inflow velocity, and the fuel salt residence time out of the core are discussed in detail. The results provide some valuable information for the research and design of the new generation molten salt reactors.     

Implementation of an LBE spallation target in an accelerator-driven molten salt subcritical reactor

An accelerator-driven system (ADS) combined with a subcritical molten salt reactor (MSR) is a type of hybrid reactor originally designed to use Th/U (or U/Pu ) fuel cycles. In most accelerator-driven molten salt reactor (AD-MSR) concepts, the salt material is also used as a target for inducing spallation neutrons. Although a neutron source is an important component in the design of ADS, only a few studies have addressed the effects of the neutron spallation source in the AD-MSR. Incidentally, there is no quantitative study on how much the beam power can be reduced by installing a spallation target in a sodium chloride-based fast reactor. We studied the proton and the neutron source efficiencies of an AD-MSR with chloride fuels by considering an Lead Bismuth Eutectic (LBE) spallation target. This LBE target is found to increase the proton source efficiency significantly. The required beam power for an AD-MSR can be reduced by 33 % and 16 % for NaCl-Th/²³³U and NaCl-U/Pu fuels, respectively, relative to the AD-MSR without the LBE spallation target by keeping the same k_eff. The energy gain can be increased up to 1.5 times and 1.2 times for NaCl-Th/²³³U and NaCl-U/Pu fuels, respectively. Thus, incorporating a spallation target module in an AD-MSR can significantly reduce the burden on the accelerator.     

秦山第二核电厂辐照燃料组件替代中子源的可行性分析

反应堆中子源的作用是提高次临界状态下堆芯的注量水平。在实际运行中,可能发生停堆时间较长致使中子源衰减,或中子源发生破损无法继续使用的情况。本文通过对已辐照燃料组件自发中子源和源量程探测器响应的计算分析,探讨使用已辐照燃料组件替代中子源的可能性。计算结果表明,首组入堆组件燃耗在24 100 MW•d•tU^-1以上即可满足中子计数率监测的要求。本方法可为中子源意外破损提供解决方案。     

Experimental study of neutron counting in a zero-power reactor driven by a neutron source inherent in highly enriched uranium fuels

Even a zero-power reactor core containing highly enriched uranium has a weak neutron source inherent in uranium 235, and consequently, a neutron counter placed closely to the core without external neutron source registers a certain counting rate. The study of the counting is very important for zero-power reactor physics experiments with a high precision. In this experimental study, first, at a shutdown state of the UTR-Kinki reactor without start-up neutron source, a pulse height distribution of output signals from a neutron proportional counter was measured to confirm that these signals resulted from neutron detections. At several subcritical states of the UTR, then, the Feynman-α analysis was carried out to confirm that the neutrons detected by the counter must be fission neutrons multiplied by fission chain reactions. The correlation amplitude measured in the Feynman-α analysis was much higher than that measured in a previous drive by start-up source. Further, it was also confirmed that the subcriticality dependence of neutron counting rate followed the source multiplication formula. This feature indicated that the one-point model was very successful in the subcritical range including the shutdown state.     

秦山一期堆本体退役源项估算及辐射场可视化

针对我国秦山一期核反应堆实际情况,利用蒙特卡罗程序建立了细化到燃料棒结构的全堆芯pinby-pin模型进行中子输运计算,并对计算模型的可靠性进行了验证;基于堆本体结构部件的几何参数、材料参数及堆本体中子注量率分布,在假定功率运行史的情况下,利用燃耗计算程序计算了反应堆停堆后的中子活化产物作为堆本体退役源项的估算结果,并对源项产生的三维辐射场剂量分布情况进行了可视化建模与分析,模拟结果与理论分析一致。本研究是下一步建立我国秦山核电厂退役技术安全验证和虚拟仿真平台的关键性基础工作。     

Parametric tests and measurements after shimming of a beryllium reflector in a miniature neutron source reactor (MNSR)

After 10 years operation of Pakistan research reactor-2 (PARR-2), a miniature neutron source reactor (MNSR), a beryllium reflector was added to compensate the loss of reactivity due to burn up of fuel. Beryllium shim plates have been placed at the top of the core in a tray provided for this purpose. The control rod was dismantled and withdrawn from the core and the reactor was made subcritical with cadmium shimming. To monitor the neutron population during this experiment, two additional neutron monitoring channels based on BF₃ were installed around the core. Measurement of important Parameters such as effective delayed neutron fraction, decay constant, excess reactivity, control rod worth, temperature coefficient of reactivity, thermal neutron flux, cadmium ratio was done after the addition of Be reflector. Increase in reactivity worth due to addition of Be shim was 1.0 mk.     

CFBR-Ⅱ脉冲堆停堆过程物理分析

依据中子增殖规律,应用点堆模型动态方程分析了CFBR-Ⅱ脉冲堆停堆的物理过程,发现坪区功率与预加反应性无关,原因是缓发中子产生强度与中子增殖两个相反因素互相抵消。利用两套¹⁰B电离室分别测量获得了坪区功率和爆发脉冲后350 s内堆功率的变化。该堆停堆过程中功率变化为：坪区时3.5 MW,主安全块下降5 mm时209 kW,各部件外下限时4.8 kW,30 s时约60 W。     

熔盐堆单参数扰动瞬态特性分析

熔盐堆（MSR）作为一种新型的反应堆,其热工水力特性与其他堆型有很大差异,扰动瞬态分析有助于从根本上了解其安全特性和运行状态。为了研究MSR的运行瞬态特性,本研究以液态燃料MSR为研究对象,利用经过修改的RELAP5/ MOD4.0程序进行了稳态运行工况下的扰动瞬态分析。干扰变量包括反应性引入、一回路熔盐质量流量、二回路质量流量、空气散热器质量流量、空气散热器入口空气温度。分析了主要运行参数,如功率、堆芯进出口温度、二回路进出口温度、特征时间等。结果表明MSR在各种扰动瞬态下的最终状态都趋于稳定,而不存在严重的瞬态变化,这是对其固有稳定性特性的直观表征。根据功率和温度等变量在扰动下的变化,提出了功率和不同回路温度的控制方法。      

Thermal hydraulic behaviors during loss of RHR system at mid-loop operation of Chinese 300 MWe PWR NPP

Thermal hydraulic behavior of nuclear power plant (NPP) is analyzed by using mechanistic computer code for loss of residual heat removal (RHR) system during mid-loop operation of Chinese 300 MWe two-loop pressurized water reactor is presented. In the absence of recovery of RHR or other accident management measures, the reactor core will be uncovered for a long term resulting in core heat-up, degradation and relocation to the lower plenum. The effectiveness of available mitigate measures, such as safety injection system, gravity feed from refueling water storage tank (RWST) and steam generator (SG) reflux-condensation, are investigated. Coolant injection is highly effective in halting the accident progression and make the core recovered. The cooling capability of SG reflux-condensation has a relationship with different availabilities of steam generators and decay heat power. 6 days after shutdown, 2SG operation can keep the water level at mid-line of hot leg. 12 days after shutdown, both 2SG operation and 1SG operation can keep the water level at mid-line of hot leg. The analyses also indicate that the cooling mechanism of safety injection system is more effective than gravity feed from RWST and SG reflux-condensation. Through confirming the success criteria of SG reflux-condensation, time windows can be devided. Then, event trees for loss of RHR system under mid-loop operation are built with considering the analysis results and abnormal procedure.     

小型可运输长寿命铅铋冷却快堆堆芯设计研究

为满足偏远地区供电需求,提出了一种小型可运输长寿命铅铋冷却快堆（STLFR）堆芯设计方案,额定热功率为20 MW,在不换料条件下可运行18 EFPY（有效满功率年）。为减小堆芯体积,堆芯采用蜂窝煤型燃料组件,内设若干冷却剂管道,管外为燃料,实现了较高的堆芯燃料体积占比。为展平堆芯径向功率分布,将堆芯燃料区沿径向划分为三区,分别采用不同的冷却剂管道尺寸。为降低堆芯高度,设计使用含高富集度⁶Li的液态锂作为吸收体的液态吸收体控制系统。为降低初始剩余反应性,在堆芯控制组件与安全组件中布置两组固定式可替换吸收体,分别在堆芯燃耗1/3和2/3寿期时替换为固定式反射体。提出的堆芯设计方案在整个运行寿期内满足热工设计限值,控制系统和安全系统能独立满足堆芯控制和停堆要求。采用准静态反应性平衡方法对5种典型无保护事故工况进行分析,初步证明了堆芯具有固有安全特性。     

Accident management following loss of residual heat removal during mid-loop operation in a Westinghouse two-loop PWR

The possibility of an accident or component failure during mid-loop operation has been identified in probabilistic studies as a major contributor to core melt frequency and source term risk during shutdown conditions. The wide range of plant states encountered and the unavailability of certain safety features make it difficult to guarantee that safety systems operation will always be sufficient to terminate the accident evolution. In this context analyses are performed using MELCOR 1.8.5 for loss of residual heat removal (RHR) at various times during mid-loop operation of a Westinghouse two-loop PWR. In the absence of recovery of RHR or other accident management (AM) measures, the sequences necessarily lead to a long term core uncovery, heat-up and degradation, loss of geometry and eventual failure of the reactor pressure vessel (RPV). The results show an extensive time window before uncovery and additionally before core damage, which increase progressively with increasing time after shutdown at which loss of RHR occurs. Significant oxidation of the cladding may result in concentrations of hydrogen sufficient for deflagration. The slow evolution implies an opportunity for the plant operators to initiate AM measures even after core uncovery has started. The analyses indicate a substantial time window during the uncovery within which the injection can recover the core without damage. The upper end of the window is determined by the temperature at which heat from cladding oxidation becomes a dominant factor, marking a critical point for the effectiveness of this recovery mode. The results provide confidence in the inherent robustness of the plant with respect to accident sequences of this type.     

Feasibility of a critical molten salt reactor for waste transmutation

This study assesses the feasibility of designing a Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) using the salt mixture of LiF (15 mol%), NaF (58 mol%) and BeF₂ (27 mol%) to be critical when fuelled with TRU from LWR spent fuel without exceeding the actinides solubility limit and while extracting fission products at realistic rates. The first part of the study investigated the graphite-to-MS volume ratio on the neutron balance, transmutation characteristics and graphite lifetime. It is found that a core without graphite moderator is the preferred design option; it offers the best neutron balance, most compact design and alleviated graphite lifetime problem. The second part of the study investigated sensitivity of the epithermal spectrum core to the feed composition, power density, fission products residence time and actinides loss fraction. It is found that the transmutation effectiveness improves with increasing power density and that the shorter the LWR spent fuel cooling time is, the better becomes the MSR neutron balance. The optimal MSR design offers a remarkably high transmutation capability – fissioning of as high as 99.8% of the TRU fed. The transmutation capability of the MSR is also rated in terms of final waste radiotoxicity, decay heat, spontaneous fission neutrons emission, fissile and ²³⁷Np inventory.     

AP1000核电厂灵活循环燃料管理策略研究及应用

我国核电装机容量逐年稳步扩增,核电厂参与电网调峰愈加频繁,固定的换料周期逐渐难以满足核电厂经济运行的需求。本文基于AP1000核电厂18个月堆芯装载方案,设计了±1个月和±2个月的灵活周期堆芯装载方案,完成方案的安全性限值与燃料经济性评价,开展完整的安全分析。结果表明,堆芯设计满足安全相关验收准则的要求,全面论证了灵活循环燃料管理策略的安全性和可行性。本研究为AP1000核电厂灵活循环周期运行提供了技术支撑,灵活循环周期运行即将在海阳核电厂中工程应用。     

熔盐堆物理热工耦合程序开发及验证分析

熔盐堆(Molten Salt Reactor,MSR)是第四代反应堆6种堆型中唯一的液态燃料反应堆,与固态燃料-液体冷却剂反应堆相比,原理上有较大不同。在熔盐堆中,流动的熔盐既是燃料又是冷却剂与慢化剂,中子物理学与热工水力学相互耦合;由于熔盐的流动性,缓发中子先驱核会随燃料流至堆芯外衰变,造成缓发中子的丢失,导致堆芯反应性降低。正是由于熔盐堆的这些新特性,造成熔盐堆内缓发中子先驱核、温度等参数变化与固态燃料反应堆有所不同,需要研究熔盐堆在各种工况下的相关物理参数变化。本文主要工作是考虑缓发中子先驱核的流动性对熔盐堆的影响,研究适用于熔盐堆的二维圆柱几何时空中子动力学程序及与之耦合的热工水力学程序;利用该程序对熔盐堆中子物理学和热工水力学进行耦合计算,验证熔盐堆相关实验数据;并且计算了熔盐堆无保护启停泵及堆芯入口温度过冷过热工况,用于分析熔盐堆的安全特性。计算结果表明,程序能够对熔盐反应堆实验(Molten Salt Reactor Experiment,MSRE)的相关实验数据进行较好的模拟计算,并且验证了熔盐堆的固有安全性。