Analysis of a fast spectrum irradiation facility in the high flux isotope reactor

Ronald J. Ellis, Jess C. Gehin, Joel L. McDuffee, Randy W. Hobbs

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

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) is proposing to develop a sodium-cooled fast-spectrum reactor (SFR) to transmute and consume actinides from discharged nuclear fuel. To meet performance objectives, new and advanced fuels and targets need to be developed. The fuels to be irradiated include metal and oxide mixed actinides (U-Np-Pu-Am-Cm); for the target concept, Am-Cm has been considered. A significant part of the development process is the irradiation of the fuel and cladding in a prototypic fast reactor environment to determine the performance under irradiation. Analysis results are presented in this paper for a fast-neutron irradiation facility design based on the large fast neutron flux available in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) combined with the use of a strongly-absorbing thermal neutron shield. Several designs were assessed; the preferred concept consists of a three-pin design with an europium oxide thermal neutron shield, to be situated in the HFIR flux trap. Analyses show that this design could provide a fast to thermal neutron flux ratio greater than 400, a fast neutron flux larger than 1×1015 n/cm2·s, and with an acceptable impact on HFIR operation. This design feasibly will be a relatively low-cost near-term facility that meets the requirements for fast fuel irradiation.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInternational Conference on the Physics of Reactors 2008, PHYSOR 08
PublisherPaul Scherrer Institut
Pages2524-2529
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)9781617821219
StatePublished - 2008
EventInternational Conference on the Physics of Reactors 2008, PHYSOR 08 - Interlaken, Switzerland
Duration: Sep 14 2008Sep 19 2008

Publication series

NameInternational Conference on the Physics of Reactors 2008, PHYSOR 08
Volume3

Conference

ConferenceInternational Conference on the Physics of Reactors 2008, PHYSOR 08
Country/TerritorySwitzerland
CityInterlaken
Period09/14/0809/19/08

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