Characterization of minor actinide mixed oxide fuel

The global nuclear energy partnership (GNEP) was created in order for ‘fuel-cycle supplier’ nations to provide assured supplies of nuclear fuel to ‘fuel-cycle customer’ nations. The customer nations would utilize the fuel for electricity generation and subsequently return it to the supplier nation after it is spent. This spent fuel would then be reprocessed by the supplier nation in order to recycle the actinide constituents, mainly uranium and plutonium, in advanced nuclear power reactors, and thus reduce waste volumes [1] and [2]. The International Atomic Energy Agency would control the nuclear materials. One of the thrust areas for the GNEP program is the development of these actinide bearing fuels for transmutation in a fast reactor.     

Plutonium management and Generation IV systems

This paper discusses the potential role of Generation IV nuclear energy systems in managing plutonium. It briefly reviews the Generation IV goals and their relevance to plutonium management. Each of the six selected Generation IV systems [very high temperature reactor (VHTR), gas-cooled fast reactor (GFR), sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR), super-critical-water-cooled reactor (SCWR), lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR), molten salt reactor (MSR)] is briefly discussed. The main characteristics of each system are summarised and the capability for plutonium management indicated. The potential for the management of plutonium using Generation IV systems is briefly reviewed from a complete fuel cycle perspective to illustrate the issues in the context of a fleet of reactor and fuel cycle facilities.     

中国快堆及先进核燃料循环体系发展战略思考

中国是世界上最大的发展中国家,能源消耗位列世界第一。为实现社会、经济的可持续发展,确保能源供应安全和降低环境压力,大力发展包括核能在内的清洁能源是能源发展战略的必然选择。目前,中国的核能经过近30年的发展取得了长足进步,但在能源体系中依然占比很小。鉴于中国的铀资源总体储量有限,仅靠热中子反应堆支撑核能作为主力能源发展难以实现。快堆具有资源利用率高、固有安全性好等优点,配以先进核燃料循环系统,可实现核能的大规模、可持续、环境友好的发展。其中,快堆的发展应遵从先增殖、后嬗变的路线,燃料方面在经过氧化物陶瓷燃料后应尽快过渡到金属燃料;后处理方面初期主要通过水法处理压水堆乏燃料,为快堆提供初装料,后续要尽快实现干法后处理,以缩短增殖燃料的倍增时间和提高整个体系的经济性;同时,还需要同步发展高放废物的处理处置技术。在快堆和先进核燃料循环体系的支撑下,我国的核能能实现在千年量级上作为主力能源发展。     

Renewed interest in lead cooled fast reactors

In the last few years a number of compact designs of lead-alloy cooled systems have been promoted. Moreover, in Russia a design effort was started earlier on the pure lead-cooled BREST reactor but this effort does not appear to be strongly funded any more. But now the lead cooled and compact STAR-LM reactor is promoted in the US and in the European Union there is some interest in a mediumsized lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR). It has brought some nuclear industries, a large utility, several research centers and universities together to ask the European Commission for a partial funding of design and safety efforts. A 600 MWe LFR design is proposed which would be useful for base load operation but as a fast system it could also be used for load following. Because of the possible plant simplifications and the use of pure lead, the economics of such a system should be good. Moreover, efficient fuel utilization, the burning of higher actinides and a closed fuel cycle make it a sustainable system. Whether, this larger system has the same inherent / passive safety characteristics as smaller LFRs needs to be examined. In this paper the passive emergency decay heat removal by reactor vessel aircooling of such a larger system is investigated. Moreover an inlet blockage in a subassembly of a low power density LMR is analyzed. Furthermore, the pros and cons of lead vs. lead/bismuth coolants are discussed.     

小型自然循环铅基快堆内部始发事件选取研究

始发事件是铅基反应堆确定论安全分析和概率安全评价的起点和基础,对反应堆优化设计和安全运行具有重要指导作用。本文基于小型自然循环铅基快堆SNCLFR-100当前的设计方案,参考其他先进快堆始发事件选取经验,以广义“堆芯熔化”作为顶层目标事件,采用主逻辑图（MLD）方法推导其内部始发事件,最后得到一组较完整的内部始发事件清单。本文研究可为自然循环铅基快堆安全分析工作的开展提供理论依据。      

A blueprint for GNEP advanced burner reactor startup fuel fabrication facility

The purpose of this article is to identify the requirements and issues associated with design of GNEP Advanced Burner Reactor Fuel Facility. The report was prepared in support of providing data for preparation of a NEPA Environmental Impact Statement in support the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP). One of the GNEP objectives was to reduce the inventory of long lived actinide from the light water reactor (LWR) spent fuel. The LWR spent fuel contains Plutonium (Pu)-239 and other transuranics (TRU) such as Americium-241. One of the options is to transmute or burn these actinides in fast neutron spectra as well as generate the electricity. A sodium-cooled Advanced Recycling Reactor (ARR) concept was proposed to achieve this goal. However, fuel with relatively high TRU content has not been used in the fast reactor. To demonstrate the utilization of TRU fuel in a fast reactor, an Advanced Burner Reactor (ABR) prototype of ARR was proposed, which would necessarily be started up using weapons grade (WG) Pu fuel. The WG Pu is distinguished by relatively highest proportions of Pu-239 and lesser amount of other actinides. The WG Pu was assumed to be used as the startup fuel along with TRU fuel in lead test assemblies. Because such fuel is not currently being produced in the US, a new facility (or new capability in an existing facility) was being considered for fabrication of WG Pu fuel for the ABR. It was estimated that the facility will provide the startup fuel for 10-15 years and would take 3-5 years to construct.     

铅冷行波堆反应性变化规律及其影响因素研究

铅冷行波堆具有安全性好、倒换料周期长、铀资源利用率高等突出优势,是先进核能系统的重点发展方向之一,实现反应性微小变化是铅冷行波堆堆芯方案设计的关键技术问题。本文以热功率700 MW、采用金属燃料的铅冷行波堆物理方案为研究对象,重点研究了堆芯点火区及增殖区设计参数变化对有效增殖因子（k_eff）的影响,分析了全寿期堆芯反应性的变化趋势。数值结果表明:点火区设计参数显著影响堆芯初始k_eff,点火区的易裂变核素装量越大,初始k_eff越大,通过调整点火区在堆芯轴向位置及其燃料富集度可有效降低反应性变化幅度;堆芯装载的可转换核素与易裂变核素之比越高,增殖产生的239Pu越多,整体增殖性能越好;增殖区越长,平衡态持续时间越长,堆芯寿期越长。本文研究结论可为铅冷行波堆堆芯物理方案设计及关键参数选择提供重要理论依据。      

Prospects for the Development of Fast Breeder Reactors

Possible ways to improve nuclear power systems with fast breeder reactors and conditions for ensuring that such systems are competitive are discussed. Certain questions concerning schematic and structural improvements are examined. The results of a comparative analysis of sodium- and lead-cooled breeder reactors are presented. It is pointed out that for sodium-cooled reactors the corresponding informtion is due to many years of experience in developing, investigating, and operating experimental, test, and commercial reactors. There is no experience in developing lead-cooled reactors. A comparative analysis does not confirm that there are any advantages with respect to technical or economic performance for lead-cooled breeder reactors.     

Similarity of high-temperature gas-cooled reactor technologies and designs in Russia and USA

Historical information concerning the development of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors in the USA and Russia is presented. The reactor facilities MHTGR (USA), VG-400 (Russia), VGM (Russia), GT-MGR (Russia, USA), and at the Fort St. Vrain nuclear power plant (USA) are described. The US programs for developing innovative high-temperature nuclear reactor technologies are examined. It is shown that the Russian and US technological developments for the fuel, reactor system, energy conversion system, and fission-product transport are similar.     

Metallic fuels for advanced reactors

In the framework of the Generation IV Sodium Fast Reactor Program, the Advanced Fuel Project has conducted an evaluation of the available fuel systems supporting future sodium cooled fast reactors. This paper presents an evaluation of metallic alloy fuels. Early US fast reactor developers originally favored metal alloy fuel due to its high fissile density and compatibility with sodium. The goal of fast reactor fuel development programs is to develop and qualify a nuclear fuel system that performs all of the functions of a conventional fast spectrum nuclear fuel while destroying recycled actinides. This will provide a mechanism for closure of the nuclear fuel cycle. Metal fuels are candidates for this application, based on documented performance of metallic fast reactor fuels and the early results of tests currently being conducted in US and international transmutation fuel development programs.     

State of and problems in the nuclear power fuel cycle

Conclusions The aim of the INFCE program was not negotiation, but a broad, multisided examination of various aspects of nuclear power development. The studies carried out within the framework of the INFCE did not lead to any unexpected conclusions; however, a thorough analysis of the possibilities and problems of nuclear power at the present time taking account of actual economic, scientific-technical, ecological and other factors, as well as a strengthening of nonproliferation has strengthened the position of nuclear power. Estimates of nuclear demand over the long term and methods of satisfying that demand has shown that these goals can not be confidently attained by any reactor systems or fuel cycles. In particular, for a number of nations having high industrial potential, the combination of fast breeder reactors with light-water reactors is the optimum solution to the problem of long-term satisfaction of energy needs.The work condcuted by the INFCE confirmed the lack of fuel cycles that are proof against proliferation of nuclear weapons, but the work did show that when certain measures are satisfied and effective safeguards implemented, all fuel cycles presently used are sufficiently secure in this respect.Work has been completed on an international evaluation of the nuclear fuel cycle. The editorial board would like to call the reader's attention to an article devoted to general notes and the work of the fifth working group.Translated from Atomnaya Énergiya, Vol. 49, No. 6, pp. 343–349, December, 1980.     

用于海上钻井平台的小型钠冷快堆核电源概念设计方案

根据海上石油钻井平台用户电力需求的特点,介绍了一种基于斯特林热气机发电技术的小型钠冷快堆核电源设计方案,研究了小型钠冷快堆核电源的总体技术方案、主回路冷却系统以及关键设备设计方案,并给出小型钠冷快堆核电源的初步布置方案。研究结果表明：小型钠冷快堆核电源概念设计方案符合海上石油钻井平台用户需求的长周期换料、空间限制等特点。     

High burn-up capability possibilities for a new beryllium moderated water cooled natural uranium reactor

A recently conceived nuclear reactor design is evaluated here for theoretical burn-up characteristics which might support Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) goals. This reactor uses natural uranium metal as fuel with beryllium moderation. The reactor also uses light water as a coolant. The reactor analysis in this work predicts the reactor to be capable of running at up to 4 GW-thermal for total burn-up values of approximately 1.4 × 10³ GW-days. This is a very simple conceptual reactor design intended solely for very preliminary feasibility studies.     

一种铅-铋合金冷却快堆的高放废物积累量研究

目前商用压水堆积累了大量的长寿命高放废物,放射毒性强,衰变时间漫长,对环境和人类构成了长期威胁,作为6种第四代核能系统堆型中的一种,铅基冷却快堆在减少长寿命高放废物产生方面具有优势。基于此本文提出了一种热功率为300 MW的铅-铋合金冷却快堆设计。利用MCNP程序对反应堆堆芯进行建模并计算了堆芯在寿期初的主要物理参数,详细分析了燃耗过程中长寿命高放核素的积累量,并与一般压水堆长寿命高放核素的积累量进行了比较。结果表明,对主要关心的次锕系核素,铅-铋合金冷却快堆的产生量远小于压水堆的,而长寿命裂变产物的产生量与压水堆的相当。总体来说,铅-铋合金冷却快堆产生的长寿命高放废物总量小于压水堆的,可看出铅-铋合金冷却快堆在减少长寿命高放废物产生方面更具有竞争性。     

Comparison of sodium and lead-cooled fast reactors regarding reactor physics aspects, severe safety and economical issues

A large number of new fast reactors may be needed earlier than foreseen in the Generation IV plans. According to the median forecast of the Special Report on Emission Scenarios commissioned by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Control nuclear power will increase by a factor of four by 2050. The drivers for this expected boost are the increasing energy demand in developing countries, energy security, but also climate concerns. However, staying with a once-through cycle will lead to both a substantially increased amount of high-level nuclear waste and an upward pressure on the price of uranium and even concerns about its availability in the coming decades. Therefore, it appears wise to accelerate the development of fast reactors and efficient re-processing technologies.In this paper, two fast reactor systems are discussed—the sodium-cooled fast reactor, which has already been built and can be further improved, and the lead-cooled fast reactor that could be developed relatively soon. An accelerated development of the latter is possible due to the sizeable experience on lead/bismuth eutectic coolant in Russian Alpha-class submarine reactors and the research efforts on accelerator-driven systems in the EU and other countries.First, comparative calculations on critical masses, fissile enrichments and burn-up swings of mid-sized SFRs and LFRs (600 MW_e) are presented. Monte Carlo transport and burn-up codes were used in the analyses. Moreover, Doppler and coolant temperature and axial fuel expansion reactivity coefficients were also evaluated with MCNP and subsequently used in the European Accident Code-2 to calculate reactivity transients and unprotected Loss-of-Flow (ULOF) and Loss-of-Heat Sink (ULOHS) accidents. Further, ULOFs as well as decay heat removal (protected Total Loss-of-Power, TLOP) were calculated with the STAR-CD CFD code for both systems.We show that LFRs and SFRs can be used both as burners and as self-breeders, homogeneously incinerating minor actinides. The tight pin lattice SFRs (P/D = 1.2) appears to have a better neutron economy than wide channel LFRs (P/D = 1.6), resulting in larger BOL actinide inventories and lower burn-up swings for LFRs. The reactivity burn-up swing of an LFR self-breeder employing BeO moderator pins could be limited to 1.3$ in 1 year. For a 600 MW_e LFR burner, LWR-to-burner support ratio was about two for (U, TRU)O₂-fuelled system, while it increased to approximately 2.8 when (Th, TRU)O₂ fuel was employed. The corresponding figures for an SFR were somewhat lower. The calculations revealed that LFRs have an advantage over SFRs in coping with the investigated severe accident initiators (ULOF, ULOHS, TLOP). The reason is better natural circulation behavior of LFR systems and the much higher boiling temperature of lead. A ULOF accident in an LFR only leads to a 220 K coolant outlet temperature increase whereas for an SFR the coolant may boil. Regarding the economics, the LFR seems to have an advantage since it does not require an intermediate coolant circuit. However, it was also proposed to avoid an intermediate coolant circuit in an SFR by using a supercritical CO₂ Brayton cycle. But in an LFR, the reduced concern about air and water ingress may decrease its cost further.     

启明星Ⅱ号双堆芯零功率装置

启明星Ⅱ号是针对我国新型先进核能系统基础性研发及工程化设计验证而研制的双堆芯零功率装置。启明星Ⅱ号拥有两个堆芯,水堆堆芯侧重于开展热中子能谱环境下的原理性验证实验研究,铅堆堆芯侧重于重金属冷却的快中子反应堆及加速器驱动的次临界系统（ADS）等先进核能系统的中子物理特性实验研究。启明星Ⅱ号通过一套仪控系统实现了两个堆芯的集成化控制和测量数据采集,每个堆芯均配备了多套非能动安全停堆系统,固有安全性强。在启明星Ⅱ号上获取了多种堆芯的基准性临界实验数据,可为我国轻水堆的技术创新、重金属冷却反应堆工程化设计及新型核能系统的集成研发提供支持。     

超高通量快中子研究堆需求分析

实现超高快中子通量是世界先进研究堆的重要发展方向,对于加快第四代先进核能系统燃料及材料创新发展具有重要意义。本文从先进核能堆内结构材料与核燃料的辐照考验、长反应链超钚元素生产等角度,初步分析了我国建设超高通量快中子研究堆的必要性。在此基础上,确定了超高通量快中子研究堆的堆芯最大中子注量率及其冷却剂,给出了反应堆主要参数及冷却剂流动方案。反应堆热功率为200 MW,冷却剂为铅铋合金,最大中子注量率大于1016 cm?2·s?1。      

奥氏体321不锈钢在550 ℃静态铅铋共晶合金中的腐蚀行为

奥氏体321不锈钢常用作核反应堆冷却剂主管道结构材料,铅铋共晶合金是第四代核能系统（Gen Ⅳ）铅冷快堆冷却剂的主要候选材料。为研究321不锈钢与高温液态铅铋共晶合金的相容性,对321不锈钢在550 ℃液态铅铋共晶合金中的200、400、600 h腐蚀现象进行了研究。对不同腐蚀时间后腐蚀试样的表面和截面分别进行了XRD和SEM、EDS检测。结果发现：在321不锈钢试样表面产生了一种随腐蚀时间增加先生长后脱落的含O、Ti、Pb元素的化合物（Ti₂O和Pb₂O₃）;在321不锈钢基体与铅铋共晶合金交界处会产生一层随腐蚀时间增加不断增厚的扩散层;321不锈钢在铅铋共晶合金中发生溶解腐蚀,在Fe、Cr元素不断向铅铋共晶合金中溶解时,伴随着Pb、Bi元素向基体中的渗透。     

Issues affecting advanced passive light-water reactor safety analysis

Next generation commercial reactor designs emphasize enhanced safety by means of improved safety system reliability and performance. These objectives are achieved via safety system simplification and reliance on immutable natural forces for system operation. Simulating the performance of these safety systems will be central to analytical safety evaluation of advanced passive reactor designs. Yet, the characteristically small driving forces of these safety systems pose challenging computational problems to current thermal-hydraulic systems analysis codes. Additionally, the safety systems generally interact closely with one another, requiring accurate, integrated simulation of the nuclear steam supply system, engineered safeguards and containment. Furthermore, numerical safety analysis of these advanced passive reactor designs will necessitate simulation of long-duration, slowly-developing transients compared with current reactor designs. The composite effects of small computational inaccuracies on induced system interactions and perturbations over long periods may well lead to predicted results which are significantly different than would otherwise be expected or might actually occur. Comparisons between the engineered safety features of competing U.S. advanced light water reactor designs and analogous present day reactor designs are examined relative to the adequacy of existing thermal-hydraulic safety codes in predicting the mechanisms of passive safety. Areas where existing codes may require modification, extension or assessment relative to passive safety designs are identified. Conclusions concerning the applicability of these codes to advanced passive light water reactor safety analysis are presented.     

Seismic isolation development for the US advanced liquid-metal reactor program

GE Nuclear Energy, in association with a US Industrial Team and support from the US National Laboratories and Universities, is developing a modular liquid-metal reactor concept for the US Department of Energy (DOE). The objective of this development is to provide, by the turn of the century, a reactor concept with optimized passive safety features that is economically competitive with other domestic energy sources, licensable, and ready for commercial deployment. One of the unique features of the concept is the seismic isolation of the reactor modules which decouples the reactors and their safety systems from potentially damaging ground motions and significantly enhances the structural resistance to high energy, as well as long-duration earthquakes. Seismic isolation is accomplished with high-damping natural-rubber bearings. The reactors are located in individual silos below grade level and are supported by the isolator bearings at approximately their center of gravity.This application of seismic isolation is the first for a US nuclear power plant. A development program has been established to assure the full benefits from the utilization of this new approach and to provide adequate system characterization and qualification for licensing certification. The development program, which is supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE), Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETEC), the University of California at Berkeley (UC-Berkeley), General Electric (GE), and Bechtel National, Inc. (BNI), is described in this paper and selected results are presented. The initial testing indicated excellent performance of high-damping natural-rubber bearings. The development of seismic isolation guidelines is in progress as a joint activity between ENEA of Italy and the GE Team.