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- Title
Conceptual design of an innovative reduced moderation thorium‐fueled small modular reactor with heavy‐water coolant.
- Authors
Zhang, Tengfei; Xiong, Jinbiao; Liu, Xiaojing; Chai, Xiang; Li, Wei; Cheng, Xu
- Abstract
Summary: This paper presents an innovative conceptual design for small modular reactors, the reduced‐moderation small modular reactor (RMSMR), for the sustainable use of nuclear resources. The concept is established by a modification of the well‐understood pressurized water reactor technology. A reduced‐moderation lattice and heavy‐water coolant are used to yield an epithermal‐to‐fast neutron spectrum, which is beneficial for attaining a large conversion ratio and reducing the burnup reactivity swing throughout the core lifetime. Two‐dimensional pin cell and three‐dimensional core burnup calculations are performed to systematically analyze the neutronics influences of important parameters, such as the coolant type, moderator‐to‐fuel ratio, and fuel type. The RMSMR adopts a three‐zone uranium‐thorium dioxide fuel configuration to flatten the power distribution and ensure a negative void coefficient. The radial and axial blanket regions are found to enhance the breeding effect. The proposed RMSMR can sustain power generation of 100 MWe for 7 years without refueling and achieve a conversion ratio of 0.85 at the end of the cycle. Numerical simulations indicate that the proposed concept has satisfactory shutdown margins and reactivity coefficients and conservative thermal‐hydraulic safety. The RMSMR may be a promising candidate to fill the gap between light‐water reactors and fast breeder reactors.
- Subjects
LIQUID metal fast breeder reactors; PRESSURIZED water reactors; CONCEPTUAL design; FUSION reactor blankets; COOLANTS; BREEDER reactors; LIGHT water reactors; MODERATION
- Publication
International Journal of Energy Research, 2019, Vol 43, Issue 14, p8286
- ISSN
0363-907X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/er.4827