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CH 4 Nuclear Reactors
CH 4 Nuclear Reactors
Fission
Moderator Moderator
Uranium-235
Control rods
fission
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Concepts
Review
Prompt neutrons vs Delayed neutron Capture to Fission ratio a New Multiplication factor - k the number of neutrons in this generation/number of neutrons in the previous generation k or keff
Reproduction factor, number of nts released in fission per nts absorbed f Thermal utilization, thermal nts absorbed in fuel per thermal nts absorbed in fuel + thermal nts absorbed in everything else e Fast fission factor, fast nts produced per fast neutron from thermal fission p resonance escape probability, fraction of nts not captured while slowing down.
Resonance absorption
ep
epf
Neutron production
epf
=k
Real reactors
Four factors become 6
QuickTime and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompre ssor are neede d to see this picture.
Slowing
eLf
Resonance absorption
e(1-Lf)
Captured eLf(1-p)
Thermal leak
eLfp(1-Lt)
eLfp
Diffusion
epfL
Neutron production
epfL
Thermal absorption
eLfpLt
Basic Components
Steam generator
Control Rods
Used to control the chain reaction
Materials that have larger cross-
Thermal neutron
sf=572 b
sc=3000 b
q q
Tin
Water Tin
steam
Comparison PWR-BWR
BWR core power density 1/2 of the PWR but
still greater than Gas cooled Steam generators for PWR requires more upkeep PWR coolant loop is more contained Corrosion in the turbine can pass directly to the BWR causing activation and higher exposures to the operating staff
Comparison Continued
PWR have high decay heat require
cooling even when shut down SS piping in BWR is more susceptible to cracks PWR have a similar issue with the steam generator
LOCA
Address component breakdown or a
combination of component breakdowns that lead to interruption of normal cooling When an interruption occurs, the fission process is terminated, however heat generation continues
Classifications of operation
Normal
Operational transients Upsets
Emergencies
Limiting Fault Conditions includes
to stop fission
Control Cool Contain
Environmental Release
Acid Rain Contribution
1000 MWe
Nuclear SO2 - 0 Coal (1.5% S) SO2 - 90,900 tons Fuel oil (0.37%S) SO2 - 22,496 tons
neutron-spectrum, helium-cooled reactor and closed fuel cycle Very-High-Temperature Reactor (VHTR) a graphite-moderated, helium-cooled reactor with a once-through uranium fuel cycle Supercritical-Water-Cooled Reactor (SCWR) a high-temperature, high-pressure water-cooled reactor that operates above the thermodynamic critical point of water
Gen IV Program
Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) features a fastspectrum, sodium-cooled reactor and closed fuel cycle for efficient management of actinides and conversion of fertile uranium Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor (LFR) features a fastspectrum lead of lead/bismuth eutectic liquid metal-cooled reactor and a closed fuel cycle for efficient conversion of fertile uranium and management of actinides Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) produces fission power in a circulating molten salt fuel mixture with an epithermalspectrum reactor and a full actinide recycle fuel cycle
Inlet 490C Outlet 850C Pressure 90 bar Ave power density 100 MWth/m3 Burn-up 5%
He
He
H production
O2 H2
thermodynamic critical point ( 374 C 22.1 MPa 1700 MWe Pressure 25 MPa T outlet is 550C
nitride based
Molten Salt
1000 MWe T outlet 700-800 C Molten salt fuel
Questions