Izvestiya vuzov. Yadernaya Energetika

The peer-reviewed scientific and technology journal. ISSN: 0204-3327

Heavy-Water Thorium-Uranium Thermal-Neutron Breeder Reactor

12/14/2022 2022 - #04 Physics and technology of nuclear reactors

Isanov K.A. Egorov M.Yu.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2022.4.01

UDC: 621.039.574.5

The problem of the natural uranium reserve depletion and further transition to a uranium thorium fuel cycle are analyzed. Breeding options and breeder reactor versions are presented.

A concept is proposed and considered for a thorium uranium thermal neutron breeder reactor. The thermal breeder design philosophy is described. A neutronic calculation of an infinite fuel assembly model has been undertaken. The FA layout has been optimized.

The effective multiplication factor and the breeding ratio, as well as the active spectrum have been determined by multigroup method. The peculiarities of the nuclide composition change, inherent in a thorium uranium fuel cycle, are considered. The protactinium effect is discussed.

The change in the nuclide composition for a two year life (720 effective days) has been simulated. The lifetime change in the effective multiplication factor and the breeding ratio has been determined.

Prospects for the thorium uranium breeder implementation have been formulated. A thorium uranium thermal neutron breeder and fuel breeding have been shown to be feasible.

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thorium uranium fuel cycle breeding thermal breeder reactor protactinium pit breeding ratio nuclide composition change fuel production

Link for citing the article: Isanov K.A., Egorov M.Yu. Heavy-Water Thorium-Uranium Thermal-Neutron Breeder Reactor. Izvestiya vuzov. Yadernaya Energetika. 2022, no. 4, pp. 5-18; DOI: https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2022.4.01 (in Russian).

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