A physics study for negative void reactivity in compact supercritical CO2-cooled fast reactor

Yonghee Kim, Donny Hartanto, Jeong Ik Lee

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

A compact S-CO2-cooled fast reactor which has negative Coolant Void Reactivity (CVR) has been investigated. A negative CVR is important for the gas cooled fast reactor as an inherent safety mechanism to prevent the sudden positive reactivity insertion when the loss of coolant accident happens. An alternative solution to reduce the CVR is investigated in this study by using O-17 instead of O-16 in UO2 fuel. By using O-17 in the fuel, it is found that the CVR can even be negative. Impacts of the radial reflector on the CVR are also evaluated for the small SCO2 cooled fast reactor in this study. We have considered a pure lead (Pb) reflector and a lead magnesium eutectic (LME) reflector as alternative radial reflectors of the S-CO 2-cooled fast reactor. It has been shown that, with the LME radial reflector, the CVR can be negative, while the pure lead reflector provides a slightly positive CVR.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInternational Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering, M and C 2013
Pages683-692
Number of pages10
StatePublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes
EventInternational Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering, M and C 2013 - Sun Valley, ID, United States
Duration: May 5 2013May 9 2013

Publication series

NameInternational Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering, M and C 2013
Volume1

Conference

ConferenceInternational Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering, M and C 2013
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySun Valley, ID
Period05/5/1305/9/13

Keywords

  • LME reflector
  • McCARD
  • Negative CVR
  • O-17
  • S-CO-cooled small fast reactor

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