NP-MHTGR Fuel Development Program Results

Maki, John T.; Petti, David A.; Hobbins, R.R.; McCardell, R.K.; Shaber, Eric; Southworth, Frank

doi:10.2172/910745

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…There were early programs for plutonium irradiation of coated-particle fuel 11 and later irradiations of high-enriched fuel that went to 79% fissions per initial metal atom. 12 This was initially part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Deep Burn project that undertook studies on helium-cooled pebble-bed reactors designed for deep burn. 13 Those studies identified the challenges and the strategies to overcome those challenges.…”

Section: Iiib Actinide Burning In Htgrs and Fhrsmentioning

confidence: 99%

FHR, HTGR, and MSR Pebble-Bed Reactors with Multiple Pebble Sizes for Fuel Management and Coolant Cleanup

Forsberg

Peterson

2019

Nuclear Technology

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Three reactor types can be designed with pebbles (carbon spheres) as the reactor core: the pebblebed high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (PB-HTGR), the pebble-bed fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (PB-FHR), and the thermal-spectrum molten salt reactor (MSR) with fuel dissolved in coolant. In the HTGR and FHR, the pebbles are fuel (coated-particle fuel) and moderator (graphite). In a MSR the pebbles would be the moderator (no fuel). Recent advances enable prediction and modeling of pebble beds with two or more sizes of pebbles. This may enable the use of pebble beds with multiple size pebbles that create new options. A second smaller size of HTGR/FHR fuel pebble that fills some of the space between the regular pebbles can increase the power output for the same size reactor. For the FHR the second pebble size would reduce inventory of expensive coolant and may widen choices of salt coolants. In an HTGR or FHR, smaller pebbles with high actinide loadings and high heat transfer rates could be used to burn actinides while the larger pebbles are the driver fuel. Multiple pebble sizes in MSRs may enable varying the carbon-to-fuel ratio to optimize the neutron spectrum over time to more efficiently utilize the fuel and allow easy replacement of moderator. The smaller pebbles with no fuel and a high surface-to-volume ratio could be designed to remove (1) HTGR/FHR/MSR tritium from the coolant and (2) noble metal fission products and potentially other impurities in MSRs. We examine the potential incentives for pebble beds with multiple size pebbles. With the tools now available to quantify pebble-bed behavior with multiple size pebbles, the next step is to begin to quantify benefits and limitations for different applications of pebble-bed reactors with multiple sizes of pebbles. Keywords-Fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactor, molten salt reactor, high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, pebble-bed reactor. Note-Some figures may be in color only in the electronic version.

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Section: Iiib Actinide Burning In Htgrs and Fhrsmentioning

confidence: 99%

FHR, HTGR, and MSR Pebble-Bed Reactors with Multiple Pebble Sizes for Fuel Management and Coolant Cleanup

Forsberg

Peterson

2019

Nuclear Technology

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“…27 The primary objective of the test was to demonstrate the irradiation performance of reference NP-MHTGR fuel at the upper bounds of nominal operating conditions. 27 The primary objective of the test was to demonstrate the irradiation performance of reference NP-MHTGR fuel at the upper bounds of nominal operating conditions.…”

Section: Npr-1amentioning

confidence: 99%

TRISO-Coated Particle Fuel Performance

Petti

Demkowicz

Maki

et al. 2012

Comprehensive Nuclear Materials

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“…The project began in 1988 and ended in 1993, shortly after conceptual design was complete. 18 In summary, "The MHTGR-NPR plant consisted of eight 350 MW(t) reactor modules installed as two 4-module production blocks with the associated auxiliary systems and services necessary to manufacture, handle, irradiate, and process driver fuel and tritium producing targets." The NPR conceptual design also incorporated the generation of electricity as a byproduct.…”

Section: Modular High-temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (United States)mentioning

confidence: 99%

High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors Lessons Learned Applicable to the Next Generation Nuclear Plant

Beck¹,

Collins²,

Garcia³

et al. 2010

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NP-MHTGR Fuel Development Program Results

Cited by 10 publications

References 4 publications

FHR, HTGR, and MSR Pebble-Bed Reactors with Multiple Pebble Sizes for Fuel Management and Coolant Cleanup

FHR, HTGR, and MSR Pebble-Bed Reactors with Multiple Pebble Sizes for Fuel Management and Coolant Cleanup

TRISO-Coated Particle Fuel Performance

High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors Lessons Learned Applicable to the Next Generation Nuclear Plant

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