Research on Ultra High Flux Research Reactor

Abstract

The lack of fast neutron irradiation test equipment is a key practical factor that restricts the development of the new generation nuclear energy technology with fast reactor as the core in China. Scarce isotopes such as californium 242, which are urgently needed in industry and medicine, are also highly dependent on imports. In order to provide a fast reactor material irradiation environment and isotope production environment, significantly accelerate the development of fast reactor fuel and structural material technology, and improve the efficiency of rare isotope production, this paper proposes a multifunctional inherently safe ultra-high flux reactor design with fast/thermal neutron flux levels up to 1016 n/(cm2.s), namely UFR-1016. The neutron energy spectrum covers fast spectrum, superheat spectrum and thermal spectrum; several material irradiation test orifices, isotope production orifices and test loop orifices are arranged in the core, and the test loop supports many new reactor coolants such as H2O, Na, He, He-Xr, molten salt, etc., and supports the simulation of typical transient processes and accident conditions. This paper discusses the overall construction scheme of the reactor, and the current construction scheme shows that each performance index can meet the target requirements and achieve the expected functions while ensuring the safety performance of the reactor. This study can provide a basis for the development of ultra-high flux reactors and provide strong support for the cause of nuclear energy, nuclear technology, and nuclear medicine in China.

Study on the turbulent Prandtl number model for liquid metal flow and heat transfer in a narrow rectangular channel

“…These issues are one of the important reasons that constrain the development of fast reactors (Rudenko et al, 2017). In the above context, our institute proposed a liquid metal high-flux fast neutron research reactor design, namely, the ultra-high-flux reactor (UFR), to accelerate the development of fast reactor material technology (Zhang et al, 2022a).…”