Dual Fluid Reactor as a long‐term burner of actinides in spent nuclear fuel

Abstract

Summary Motivated by some previous steady‐state burnup calculations (J. Sierchuła et al. IJER 43, 3692 (2019)) we study the Dual Fluid Reactor metallic (DFRm) eutectic design with different fuel compositions. It is just the spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from Light Water Reactors with reactor‐grade Plutonium as the fissile material. The isotope vector used here contains all important isotopes up to 243Am. Two SNF fuel compositions are studied. One of them is appended with some fraction (0.578%) of 235U (natural Uranium), while another is just the typical SNF without this extra isotope. In both cases one achieves fuel burnup above 225 MWd/kg, higher yield of average number of neutrons trueν¯ (up to 2.94), and higher conversion ratios (up to 1.42) as compared to previous DFRm Uranium fuel composition (enriched 13.44% Uranium). However, the application of a standard SNF with no natural Uranium requires the modification of core geometry as compared to a previous design. Our results also show a significant reduction of 237Np and Am isotopes while keeping high breeding capabilities. With SNF Plutonium fuel, as compared to just enriched Uranium fuel, one is able to extend more the DFRm operation time without fuel replacement so that this reactor may act as a 20‐year lasting nuclear battery.

Analyses of the shutdown system and transients scenarios for the dual fluid reactor concept with metallic molten fuel

“…In contrary, the proposed metallic version of the DFR still has many unknown areas. To fulfil part of them, this paper deals with the metallic eutectic version DFR m with 250 MW th , similar to the model presented in previous research 5,9 . In particular, in this article, the authors proposed a reactivity control system, proposed optimal geometry and conditions, and calculated several transient scenarios.…”

“…To fulfil part of them, this paper deals with the metallic eutectic version DFR m with 250 MW th , similar to the model presented in previous research. 5,9 In particular, in this article, the authors proposed a reactivity control system, proposed optimal geometry and conditions, and calculated several transient scenarios. DFR m consists of two loops: fuel loop with eutectic uranium-chromium and a coolant loop with liquid lead.…”

“…Therefore, the DFR concept can be treated as a hybrid reactor of the lead‐cooled fast reactor and molten salt reactor. Based on previous research, DFR seems to be a promising actinide burner 9 and due to negative temperature coefficients 10 self‐regulating reactor. Figure 1 shows the conceptual design of the DFR m .…”

Recoveryof actinidesand fission products from spent nuclear fuel via electrolytic reduction: Thematic overview

“…Also it is planned to burn the obtained metal actinides in a liquid salt reactor. However, in order to do this, it is necessary to solve the problem of a low effective neutron multiplication factor in liquid nuclear fuel 11 …”

“…However, in order to do this, it is necessary to solve the problem of a low effective neutron multiplication factor in liquid nuclear fuel. 11 In the last 10 years, several reviews [12][13][14][15][16] appeared on the topic of electrolytic reduction of SNF. Each of them specializes in the problems related to this process.…”