TRU-Fueled Very High Temperature Reactors for Applications Requiring an Extended Operation With Minimized Control and No Refueling

2009 ◽  
Vol 131 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavel V. Tsvetkov ◽  
Tom G. Lewis ◽  
Ayodeji B. Alajo
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Fuel Component ◽  
Batch Mode ◽  
Research Initiative ◽  
Very High Temperature Reactor ◽  
Extended Operation ◽  
High Temperature Reactor ◽  
Very High ◽  
Single Batch ◽  
Transuranium Nuclide

This paper presents an analysis of transuranium nuclide (TRU)-fueled very high temperature reactor (VHTR) systems focusing on applications requiring an extended operation with minimized control and no refueling (single-batch mode). As an example of such applications, international deployment opportunities for grid-appropriate VHTR systems could be mentioned addressing demands for electricity, industrial heat, and co-generation in those regions where minimized servicing is desirable for various reasons. The study is performed for the hexagonal block core concept within the framework of the ongoing U.S. DOE Nuclear Energy Research Initiative project on utilization of higher actinides (TRUs and partitioned minor actinides (MAs)) as a fuel component for extended-life VHTRs. The up-to-date analysis has shown reasonable reactivity swings, core life limits with respect to fast fluences, and criticality.

Benchmark Efforts to Support Studies of Advanced VHTRs

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Ames ◽  
Pavel V. Tsvetkov
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Very High Temperature Reactor ◽  
High Temperature Reactor ◽  
Heterogeneity Effects ◽  
Test Reactor ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Double Heterogeneity ◽  
Initial Process ◽  
Very High ◽  
Single Batch

The Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) is the leading candidate for the reactor component of the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP). This is because the VHTR demonstrates great potential in improving safety characteristics, being economically competitive, providing a high degree of proliferation resistance, and producing high outlet temperatures for efficient electricity generation and/or other high temperature applications, most notably hydrogen production. In addition, different fuel types can be utilized by VHTRs, depending on operational goals. In this case, the recovery and utilization of the valuable energy left in LWR fuel in order to create ultra long life single batch cores by taking advantage of the properties of TRU fuels. This paper documents the initial process in the study of TRU fueled VHTRs, which concentrates on the verification and validation of the developed whole-core 3D VHTR models. Many of the codes used for VHTR analysis were developed without a full appreciation of the importance of randomness in particle distribution. With this in mind, the SCALE code system was chosen as the computational tool for the study. It provides the opportunity of utilizing SCALE versions 5.0 and 5.1, making it possible to compare and analyze different techniques accounting for the double heterogeneity effects associated with VHTRs. Startup physics results for Japan’s High Temperature Test Reactor (HTTR) were used for experiment-to-code benchmarking. MCNP calculations were employed for code-to-code benchmarking. Results and analysis are included in this paper.

scholarly journals Characterization of 2D-C/C Composite for Application of Very High Temperature Reactor(M & M 2009 Conference)

2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (764) ◽  
pp. 383-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taiju SHIBATA ◽  
Junya SUMITA ◽  
Taiyo MAKITA ◽  
Takashi TAKAGI ◽  
Eiji KUNIMOTO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Very High Temperature Reactor ◽  
High Temperature Reactor ◽  
Very High

TRU-Fueled VHTRs for Applications Requiring an Extended Operation With Minimized Control and No Refueling

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavel V. Tsvetkov ◽  
Tom G. Lewis ◽  
Ayodeji B. Alajo
Keyword(s):  
Core Concept ◽  
Fuel Component ◽  
Batch Mode ◽  
Extended Operation ◽  
Date Analysis ◽  
Extended Life ◽  
Single Batch

This paper presents an analysis of TRU-fueled VHTR systems focusing on applications requiring an extended operation with minimized control and no refueling (single-batch mode). As an example of such applications, international deployment opportunities for grid-appropriate VHTR systems could be mentioned addressing demands for electricity, industrial heat and co-generation in those regions where minimized servicing is desirable for various reasons. The study is performed for the hexagonal block core concept within the framework of the ongoing U.S. DOE NERI Project on utilization of higher actinides (TRUs and partitioned MAs) as a fuel component for extended-life VHTRs. The up-to-date analysis has shown reasonable reactivity swings, core life limits with respect to fast fluences and criticality.

A Techno-Economic Optimization of the Power Conversion System of a Very High Temperature Reactor

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Mansilla ◽  
Michel Dumas ◽  
Franc¸ois Werkoff
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Minimum Cost ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Total Production ◽  
Economic Optimization ◽  
Very High Temperature Reactor ◽  
Conversion System ◽  
High Temperature Reactor ◽  
Very High

Generation IV nuclear reactors will not be implemented unless they enable lower production costs than with the current systems. In such a context a techno-economic optimization method was developed and then applied to the power conversion system of a very high temperature reactor. Techno-economic optimization consists in minimizing an objective function that depends on technical variables and economic ones. The advantage of the techno-economic optimization is that it can take into account both investment costs and operating costs. A techno-economic model was implemented in a specific optimization software named Vizir, which is based on genetic algorithms. The calculation of the thermodynamic cycle is performed by a software named Tugaz. The results are the values of the decision variables that lead to a minimum cost, according to the model. The total production cost is evaluated. The influence of the various variables and constraints is also pointed out.

High and very high temperature reactor research for multipurpose energy applications

2011 ◽  
Vol 241 (9) ◽  
pp. 3490-3504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Hittner ◽  
Edgar Bogusch ◽  
Michael Fütterer ◽  
Sander de Groot ◽  
Jacques Ruer
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Energy Applications ◽  
Very High Temperature Reactor ◽  
High Temperature Reactor ◽  
Very High
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