Title: Long-life breed/burn reactor design through reshuffle scheme

Authors: Roberto López-Solís; Juan Luis Francois-Lacouture

Addresses: Energy Systems Department, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Paseo Cuauhnáhuac 8532, 62550 Jiutepec, Morelos, México ' Energy Systems Department, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Paseo Cuauhnáhuac 8532, 62550 Jiutepec, Morelos, México

Abstract: Owing to their capacity of breeding new fuel, Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) are an interesting option for the Generation IV systems. One option is the breed/burn reactor type, where the fuel bred through nuclear transmutation is burned in situ and, with the right fuel management scheme, its whole life cycle can be operated without the necessity of adding new fresh fuel. In this work, a fuel-reshuffling scheme implemented on a Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR) design is presented. Results are very satisfactory, increasing the fuel life through fuel management and keeping the whole fuel cycle without adding new fresh fuel. The code used for the simulations is KANEXT, a deterministic code developed in Germany by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology with both transport and diffusion solvers and fuel depletion capabilities.

Keywords: B&B reactors; reshuffling; SFR; sodium fast reactors; TWR; travelling-wave reactors; standing wave; KANEXT; deterministic code; central blanket; breed-burn reactors; reactor design; fast breeder reactors; FBR; nuclear energy; nuclear power; fuel management; simulation; fuel depletion.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2015.074103

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2015 Vol.9 No.3, pp.263 - 277

Received: 18 Jul 2015
Accepted: 11 Oct 2015
Published online: 08 Jan 2016 *

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