In a sodiumcooled fast reactor, commonly called a liquidmetal reactor lmr, the fuel consists of uranium dioxide or uraniumplutonium dioxide pellets french design or of uraniumplutoniumzirconium metal alloy pins u. Why did terrapower choose use sodium instead of water. The genisotxs software allows users to use multigroup cross sections generated from serpent and openmc monte carlo codes for proteus as well as the conventional fast reactor. Lead fast reactor, sodium fast reactor, pin design, mcnp 1.
Several sodiumcooled fast reactors have been built, some still in operation, and others are in planning or under construction. Uk fast reactors dounreay fast reactor dfr metal fuel, highly enriched u235u238 fuel, sodiumpotassium eutectic liquid metal coolant, 72mwth 19591977. Feb 28, 2020 im going to be completely biased and say that the leadcooled fast reactor has the most favorable overall characteristics. The sodium fast reactor sfr is the most mature reactor concept of all the generationiv nuclear systems and is a promising reactor design that is currently under development by several organizations. Sodiumcooled fast reactor an overview sciencedirect topics.
Box 2528 idaho falls, id 834032528 the submitted manuscript has been created by the university of chicago. Sodiumcooled fast reactor design principles and approach ii. In this paper, two fast reactor systems are discussed the sodiumcooled fast reactor, which has already been built and can be further improved, and the leadcooled fast reactor that could be developed relatively soon. 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. Status and trends of nuclear fuels technology for sodium.
Ansys engineering simulation for reactor design including cfd for chemical reactor design, structural and thermal analysis and instrumentation and control software used for design and analysis of chemical reactors enable reaction engineers to answer whatif questions as they design and enhance reactors performance, energy usage, reactor yield. Rob corbin is chief engineer focusing on terrapowers development of sodium fast reactor technology. Cahalans 68 research works with 483 citations and 1,591 reads, including. Astrid aims to validate breakthroughs on cycle and sfr. International atomic energy agency, status and trends of nuclear fuels technology for sodium cooled fast reactors, nuclear energy series no. Simulation of reactor transient and design criteria of sodium. Understand how differences between sodium and water result in broad design differences between a sodium cooled fast reactor sfr and a.
Why is sodium used as a coolant for nuclear reactors. To assist in the creation of a comprehensive mechanistic source term, the current effort sought to estimate the release fraction of. A safety design approach for sodium cooled fast reactor core toward. Sco 2 turbine design for decay heat removal system of sodium cooled fast reactor. This book puts the focus on the specialized topic of liquidmetal thermal hydraulics for advanced fast nuclear reactors, a discipline that is essential for liquidmetal fast reactor design and the subsequent safety assessment of the design and the reactor as built. In a sodium cooled fast reactor, commonly called a liquidmetal reactor lmr, the fuel consists of uranium dioxide or uraniumplutonium dioxide pellets french design or of uraniumplutoniumzirconium metal alloy pins u. Reactor protection system design alternatives for sodium. Turbomachinery technical conference and exposition. The european sustainable nuclear industrial initiative is funding three generation iv reactor systems, one of which is a sodium cooled fast reactor, called astrid, advanced sodium technical reactor for industrial demonstration, areva, cea and edf are leading the design with british collaboration. The agreement covers the period 20102019 until basic design studies for reactor. Since 1950s sodiumcooled fast reactors sfr have been developed. Characterize the nature of sodium interactions with air and water.
The reactor uses a superheated steam energy conversion cycle, with a reactor coolant outlet. The sodium advanced fast reactor safr modular reactor concept is being developed by the team of rockwell international, combustion engineering, and bechtel under the u. Sodium cooled fast reactor technology is suitable for reviving an industrial capability for their construction at home and internationally we have a legacy of sfr design and construction experience no large high pressure components are require except for steam generator watersteam headers. The same cannot be said about lead or leadbismuth eu. The most mature fast reactor technology, the sodium cooled fast reactor, has more than 400 reactoryears of experience acquired through the design, construction, operation and decommissioning of experimental, prototype, demonstration and commercial units operating in a number of countries, including china, france, germany, india, japan, the russian federation, the united kingdom and the united states. Three of the proposed generation iv reactor types are fast spectrum reactors 7.
Khomyakov international conference on fast reactors and related fuel cycles fr09 challenges and opportunities december7 11, 2009, kyoto, japan. Pseudo 3d fullcore conjugate heat transfer modeling of. The arc100 design creates a walk away passive safety system that ensures the reactor will never melt down even in a disaster that causes a complete loss of power to the plant site. Sodium cooled fast reactor sfr the sfr uses liquid sodium as the reactor coolant, allowing high power density with low coolant volume fraction and operation at low pressure. Ge hitachi awarded subcontract for work supporting. Treatment of residual sodium and sodium potassium from. Introduction the aim of this paper is to assess and compare heat transfer in the fuel element and cooling channel of the fast neutron reactor in steady state conditions, cooled by liquid sodium and lead with speci. The long history of fast reactors and the promise of a closed. 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. Fast reactor analysis capabilities after closure of historical facilities ebrii, fftf, treat, u. Sodium fast reactors with closed fuel cycle is a valuable reference for industry professionals involved in the construction of fast reactor power plants, as well as graduatelevel engineering students of the design and development of sodium cooled fast reactor systems and components. Sodium cooled fast reactor design principles and approach ii seminar at kaist april 24, 20 yoon il chang visiting professor, kaist world class university. Oklo mini reactor in prelicensing discussions with nrc.
In addition, it can be fueled with the nuclear waste produced by traditional reactors, and its 20 year refueling cycle offers new levels of proliferation resistance. A molten salt reactor msr is a class of nuclear fission reactor in which the primary nuclear reactor coolant andor the fuel is a molten salt mixture. Comparison of simple design of sodium and lead cooled. Sodium is generally used in a type of reactor called a fast reactor, which relies on fast moving neutrons to operate water cannot be used as a coolant because it slows the neutrons in the reactor. Mini reactors are going places and pack a lot of power. The primary mission for the sfr is improved resource utilization, management of highlevel wastes and, in particular, management of plutonium and other actinides. Sco2 turbine design for decay heat removal system of. Fast reactors have the potential to enhance sustainability indices and correspond to crosscutting prerequisites for large scale introduction of nuclear energy in the worlds energy mix. The operators achieved the initial criticality of the reactor core on april 25, 1957, and supplied electricity to the power grid for the first time on july 12, 1957.
Simulation of reactor transient and design criteria of sodium cooled fast reactors filip gottfridsson the need for energy is growing in the world and the market of nuclear power is now once more expanding. Thermal stratification analysis for sodium fast reactors. Technical meeting on innovative fast reactor designs with enhanced. Msrs offer multiple advantages over conventional nuclear power plants, although for historical reasons further explanation needed, they have not been deployed the concept was first established in the 1950s. A summary of sodiumcooled fast reactor development. Mechanical design of a sodium cooled fast reactor fuel. Construction of the sodium reactor experiment sre facility began in april 1955. Oct 08, 2019 schematic of a sodium cooled fast reactor. Fast breeder reactor advantages and disadvantages fast breeder reactor nuclear power plant reactor such reactors are designed to produce more fissile material plutonium than they consume thorium th232. The lmfns catalogue contains detailed data and information on 79 facilities in support of the development of sodium cooled fast reactors sfr, as well as 72 facilities in support of lead and leadbismuth eutectic cooled fast reactors lfr. Argonnes reactor design simulation software is central to our commitment to these founding principles. Chief engineer sodium fast reactor technology rob corbin is chief engineer focusing on terrapowers development of sodium fast reactor technology. For a successful design and analysis of a sodium cooled fast reactor sfr, it is necessary to have a reliable and wellproven system analysis code. Sodiumcooled fast reactor sfrs are designed for management of highlevel waste and, in particular, management of plutonium and other actinides.
Generation iv reactor designs, aiming to develop a strategy for better. Generation iv fast reactors university of cambridge. Attachment 2 demonstration sodiumcooled fast reactor ge. In that field, cea has engaged some innovation study either of complete fhr or on the. This paper investigates the use of enrichment and moderator zoning methods for optimizing the rz power distribution within sodium cooled fast reactors. The sodium cooled fast reactor sfr uses liquid metal sodium as a coolant instead of water that is typically used in u. Mechanical design of a sodium cooled fast reactor fuel assembly in korea. While the oxygenfree environment prevents corrosion, sodium reacts chemically. Simulation of reactor transient and design criteria of. The reactor and steam generator are located upon a single seismic isolation pedestal. Jan 27, 2019 yes, sodium is a very reactive metal but it has some tremendous advantages. Prototype fast reactor pfr, also at dounreay mixed oxide fuel, puu238, sodium liquid metal coolant, 600mwth 19741994.
Department of energys does advanced liquid metal reactor lmr program. Study and evaluation of innovative fuel handling systems for. Sodium fast reactors with closed fuel cycle, raj, baldev. High temperature is a property of all msrs i know of and does have some advantages, including better thermodynamic efficiency and usefulness for process heat. This allows for the coolant to operate at higher temperatures and lower pressures than current reactors improving the. One of the earlier efforts to devlop a mini reactor is the oklo micro reactor. A sodiumcooled fast reactor is a fast neutron reactor cooled by liquid sodium. Design features of advanced sodium cooled fast reactors with. A fast reactor is the most promising future nuclear power plant because of efficient usage of uranium and reduction of radioactive waste. The outlet temperature is 500550c for the options, which allows the use of the materials developed and proven in prior fast reactor programs. The most mature fast reactor technology, the sodium cooled fast reactor, has more than 400 reactor years of experience acquired through the design, construction, operation and decommissioning of experimental, prototype, demonstration and commercial units operating in a number of countries, including china, france, germany, india, japan, the.
Experimental facilities for sodium fast reactor safety studies. Sodium reactor experiment santa susana, ca july 1959. An accelerated development of the latter is possible. Why did terrapower choose use sodium instead of water, lead. Ensuring the safety of advanced fast reactor design. Sodium cooled fast reactors sfr dr robert hill argonne national laboratory, usa.
The firm is developing a 2 mwe fast reactor using uzr metal fuel based on the fuel in ebrii, but with lower burnup. Program on science and global security and the nuclear futures laboratory. Argonnes sas4asassys1 safety analysis code system is a simulation tool that can perform deterministic transient safety analysis of anticipated operational events, as well as designbasis and beyonddesignbasis accidents for advanced nuclear reactors. The nea data bank provides nuclear data and computer program services. Sodiumcooled fast reactor an overview sciencedirect. International atomic energy agency, treatment of residual sodium and sodium potassium from fast reactors, iaeatecdoc1769, iaea, vienna 2015. French sodiumcooled fast reactor simulation program. The sodium cooled fast reactor sfr system features a fast spectrum reactor and closed fuel recycle system. Cho, seong kuk, lee, jekyoung, lee, jeong ik, and cha, jae eun.
Introduction one important design requirement for sodium cooled fast reactors sfr is the knowledge of the temperature on the hexagonal ducts for a thermomechanical analysis. The sllim is a liquid sodium nuclear fast reactor that generates 10 to 100 mw for many years, even decades, without refueling. The prism moda reactor is a 471 mwt fast reactor that uses sodium coolant and metal fuel. The current status of nuclear power and sfr design technology development program in korea will be discussed. Sodiumcooled fast reactor sfr technology and safety overview. The perceived potential consequences of a severe unprotected transient in a sodium cooled fast reactor include an energetic core disruptive accident, vessel failure, and a large early release. Presents design challenges for addressing sodium reactions.
A sodium cooled 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 several sodium cooled fast reactors have been built, some still in operation, and others are in planning or under construction. Engineers from ge hitachi nuclear energy will adapt the companys sodium cooled nuclear reactor design, shown in this rendering, to the needs of a fast spectrum versatile test reactor. To achieve this purpose, kaeri has been enhancing the modeling capability of the mars code by adding the sfrspecific thermalhydraulic models and reactivity feedback models. An optimized fuel handling route will also limit its investment cost. A sodium cooled 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. The safr plant concept employs a 350mwe pooltype lmr power pak as its basic module. The sodiumcooled fast reactor sfr gen iv system is considered to be the design with the greatest maturity for the burning of minor actinides ma because fast spectrum neutrons generally have a greater probability for the fission of ma than thermal. Seriesreport no ss vii special session ss vii02 challenges of small modular reactors ii 00 smirt 24 busan, republic of korea.
The development of an accurate and defensible mechanistic source term will be vital for the future licensing efforts of metal fuel, pooltype sodium fast reactors. Comparison of simple design of sodium and lead cooled fast. Since its establishment in 1946, argonne national laboratory has ensured the safe, sustainable, and secure use of nuclear power worldwide. Two designs of sodiumcooled fast reactors sfr are currently in practice, viz. Design solutions sodium in the primary system is blanketed with inert gas and is maintained in double containment. Changing an fbr design to fnr involves removing the 238 u blanket and installing stainless steel or equivalent neutron reflectors. Design features of advanced sodium cooled fast reactors. The sodium cooled fast reactor sfr gen iv system is considered to be the design with the greatest maturity for the burning of minor actinides ma because fast spectrum neutrons generally have a greater probability for the fission of ma than thermal. Some issues of the current lightwater reactors can be solved by the next generation of nuclear power, generation iv, where sodium cooled. The majority of sodium fast reactor designs utilize a pool type arrangement which incorporates the. In this role, corbin works with experts on terrapowers engineering and fuels teams to provide additional definition, direction and oversight for twr research, testing and development.
Gascooled fast reactor gfr sodium cooled fast reactor sfr leadcooled fast reactor lfr with the establishment of gif in 2001 and the launch of the project to design and build generation iv reactors, research on frs has intensi. Called a power pak by rockwell international, four power paks producing about 20 mw could make up a typical commericalscale generating station. These methods allow overall greater fuel utilization in the core resulting in more fuel being irradiated near the maximum allowed thermal power. Historically, unprotected transients have been viewed as design basis events that can significantly challenge sodium cooled fast reactors. As a fast reactor, the sfr appeals to the gen iv requirements of greater fuel efficiency and the reduction in waste production. Design concept of advanced sodiumcooled fast reactor and. Regulatory technology development plan sodium fast. Some msr companies are working on fast reactors using chloride salts, including moltex, elysium, and terrapower in a project separate from their betterknown sodium cooled fast reactor. The research for technological improvement and innovation in sodium cooled fast reactor is a matter of concern in fuel handling systems in a view to perform a better load factor of the reactor thanks to a quicker fuellingdefueling process.
Inherent prevention and mitigation of severe accident consequences in sodium cooled fast reactors. Reactor vessel sodium free surface is covered with inert gas, and the gap between reactor vessel and guard vessel as well as the gap between sodium pipe and guard pipe around it are also filled with inert gas. Japan sodium cooled fast reactor jsfr is a concept which has potential to achieve sustainable energy production, radioactive waste reduction, safety equal to the future light water reactor lwr and economic competitiveness against other future energy sources. Yes, sodium is a very reactive metal but it has some tremendous advantages. The united states has extensive experience with the design, construction, and operation of sodium. First of all, while it is reactive to air and water, it is not reactive to many metals including stainless steel. Appendix a fast reactor data pavel tsvetkov and alan waltar this appendix summarizes principal design data for fast spectrum reactors being developed, designed and constructed wor. Sodiumcooled fast reactors promise to definitely solve the fuel availability. Identify important differences between sodium and other fast reactor coolants leadlbe and helium and why sodium is preferred.
What are the best generation 4 nuclear reactor designs. By far the most advanced of the six is the sodium cooled fast reactor sfr, developed by france, russia and. Fanning1 1argonne national laboratory, argonne, illinois, usa email contact of main author. A program for studying compatibility of lead, bismuth, and their alloys. The sodiumcooled fast reactor is the candidate of generation iv that lies.
The heart of the sodium advanced fast reactor safr concept is a small, 330mw, sodium cooled reactor that can be built in the factory and shipped to the site by barge. The mc 23 dif3d system has been extensively verified, validated using various numerous fast reactor experiments, and utilized for fast reactor design and analysis. Open source molten salt nuclear reactor design hacker news. Design features of advanced sodium cooled fast reactors with emphasis on economics p. Meet the presenter robert hill is a senior nuclear engineering at argonne national laboratory, where he has worked for the last 29 years with research focused on reactor physics, fast reactor design. While the oxygenfree environment prevents corrosion, sodium reacts chemically with air and water and requires a sealed coolant system. In particular, a sodium cooled fast reactor sfr has been focused as a new generation of nuclear power plants in korea. A design workaround has been proposed to have an inert matrix. Applicability this rg applies to nuclear power reactor designers, applicants, and licensees of nonlwr.
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