Preliminary analysis of fuel cycle performance for a small modular heavy water-moderated thorium molten salt reactor

Heavy water-moderated molten salt reactors(HWMSRs)are novel molten salt reactors that adopt heavy water rather than graphite as the moderator while employing liquid fuel.Owing to the high moderating ratio of the heavy water moderator and the utilization of liquid fuel,HWMSRs can achieve a high neutron economy.In this study,a large-scale small modular HWMSR with a thermal power of 500 MWth was proposed and studied.The criticality of the core was evaluated using an in-house critical search calculation code(CSCC),which was developed based on Standardized Computer Analyses for Licensing Evaluation,version 6.1.The preliminary fuel cycle performances(initial conversion ratio(CR),initialfissile fuel loading mass,and temperature coefficient)were investigated by varying the lattice pitch(P)and the molten salt volume fraction(VF).The results demonstrate that the temperature coefficient can be negative over the range of investigated Ps and VFs for both 233U-Th and LEU-Th fuels.A core with a P of 20 cm and a VF of 20%is recommended for 233U-Th and LEU-Th fuels to achieve a high performance of initial CR and fuel loading.Regarding TRU-Th fuel,a core with a smaller P(~5 cm)and larger VF(~24%)is recommended to obtain a negative temperature coefficient.

Transition toward thorium fuel cycle in a molten salt reactor by using plutonium

The molten salt reactor(MSR), as one of the Generation Ⅳ advanced nuclear systems, has attracted a worldwide interest due to its excellent performances in safety, economics, sustainability, and proliferation resistance. The aim of this work is to provide and evaluate possible solutions to fissile 233 U production and further the fuel transition to thorium fuel cycle in a thermal MSR by using plutonium partitioned from light water reactors spent fuel. By using an in-house developed tool, a breeding and burning(B&B) scenario is first introduced and analyzed from the aspects of the evolution of main nuclides, net 233 U production, spectrum shift, and temperature feedback coefficient. It can be concluded that such a Th/Pu to Th/^(233)U transition can be accomplished by employing a relatively fast fuel reprocessing with a cycle time less than 60 days. At the equilibrium state, the reactor can achieve a conversion ratio of about 0.996 for the 60-day reprocessing period(RP) case and about 1.047 for the 10-day RP case.The results also show that it is difficult to accomplish such a fuel transition with limited reprocessing(RP is 180 days),and the reactor operates as a converter and burns the plutonium with the help of thorium. Meanwhile, a prebreeding and burning(PB&B) scenario is also analyzed briefly with respect to the net 233 U production and evolution of main nuclides. One can find that it is more efficient to produce 233 U under this scenario, resulting in a double time varying from about 1.96 years for the 10-day RP case to about 6.15 years for the 180-day RP case.

Study for ^(228)Th reduction in thermal reactor with Th-U fuel cycls

By using computer code WIMS/CENDL, the effects of some parameters, core configuration such as fuel element structure, neutron flux and burn-up, are discussed in this paper. It is shown that high neutron flux, small fuel rod diameter, large volume ratio of coolant to fuel, seed-blank heterogeneous core arrangement and 231 Pa chemical separation are necessary for reducing 228Th production in reactor.

Modeling of Fuel Elements Cycling System in Pebble Bed Reactor Based on Timed Places Control Petri Nets

Pebble bed reactors use cycling scheme of spherical fuel elements relying on fuel elements cycling system (FECS). The structure and control logic of FECS are very complex. Each control link has strict requirements on time and sequence. This increases the difficulties of description and analysis. In this paper, timed places control Petri nets (TPCPN) is applied for the modeling of FECS. On this basis the simulation of two important processes, namely uploading fuel elements into the core for the first time and emptying the core is finished by simulation software Arena. The results show that as TPCPN is able to describe different kinds of logic relationship and has time properties and control properties, it’s very suitable for the modeling and analysis of FECS.

Thorium-Based Fuel Cycles in the Modular High Temperature Reactor

Large stockpiles of civil-grade as well as weapons-grade plutonium have been accumulated in the world from nuclear power or other programs of different countries. One alternative for the management of the plutonium is to incinerate it in the high temperature reactor （HTR）. The thorium-based fuel cycle was studied in the modular HTR to reduce weapons-grade plutonium stockpiles, while producing no additional plutonium or other transuranic elements. Three thorium-uranium fuel cycles were also investigated. The thorium absorption cross sections of the resolved and unresolved resonances were generated using the ZUTDGL code based on existing resonance data. The equilibrium core of the modular HTR was calculated and analyzed by means of the code VSOP＇94. The results show that the modular HTR can incinerate most of the initially loaded plutonium amounting to about 95.3% net 239pu for weapons-grade plutonium and can effectively utilize the uranium and thorium in the thorium-uranium fuel cycles.

Burnup optimization of once-through molten salt reactors using enriched uranium and thorium

The advantages of once-through molten salt reactors include readily available fuel,low nuclear proliferation risk,and low technical difficulty.It is potentially the most easily commercialized fuel cycle mode for molten salt reactors.However,there are some problems in the parameter selection of once-through molten salt reactors,and the relevant burnup optimization work requires further analysis.This study examined once-through graphitemoderated molten salt reactor using enriched uranium and thorium.The fuel volume fraction(VF),initial heavy nuclei concentration(HN_(0)),feeding uranium enrichment(E_(FU)),volume of the reactor core,and fuel type were changed to obtain the optimal conditions for burnup.We found an optimal region for VF and HN_(0) in each scheme,and the location and size of the optimal region changed with the degree of E_(FU),core volume,and fuel type.The recommended core schemes provide a reference for the core design of a once-through molten salt reactor.

Americium Transmutation in the SVBR-100 Reactor

One of the postponed problems of nuclear power (NP) is the problem of the management of long-lived radioactive waste (RAW), and, first of all, with minor actinides (MA), of which americium-241 is the most difficult. The aim of this work is to study the efficiency of americium transmutation in a fast reactor with a heavy liquid metal coolant lead-bismuth eutectic alloy. The article presents the results of calculations of the transmutation of americium in the SVBR-100 reactor using standard uranium oxide fuel with the addition of americium-241. The obtained values of the rate of transmutation of americium are compared with similar values for the SVBR-100 reactors on MOX-fuel and in the BN-800 reactor.

一体化快堆全锕系核素循环的物理可行性分析

一体化快堆是一体化闭式循环快堆核能系统的简称,由钠冷快堆、金属燃料制造设施、乏燃料处理设施和废物整备设施组成,是快堆及其燃料循环系统的高级发展阶段,能够实现铀资源的高效利用和废物最小化,显著提升闭式核燃料循环的质量和效率。一体化快堆的最主要特征是核燃料的快速循环和多次循环,且核燃料的组成包括铀、钚和次锕系核素,可以称为全锕系核素循环。本文从反应堆核设计、燃料制造燃料成分控制方法、乏燃料处理回收率要求、燃料循环过程中物料辐射特性等方面,分析评估了一体化快堆全锕系核素循环的物理可行性。

钠冷快堆及其闭式燃料循环经济评价

钠冷快堆是第四代核能系统论坛(GIF)提出的六种堆型之一,也是世界上运行堆年最长的第四代堆型。钠冷快堆具有增殖和嬗变的功能,能有效解决核能可持续发展问题。中国实验快堆工程已于2011年建成投运,在此基础上研发的示范快堆项目已开工建设。当前,制约快堆工程发展的问题是经济性问题。本文根据钠冷快堆技术特点及其在核电体系中的作用,研究了不同燃料循环模式下,快堆及其闭式燃料循环的经济评价模型及方法。

基于氧化腐蚀行为的铅铋堆燃料组件多物理耦合特性研究

氧是铅铋堆中最具应用潜力的非金属缓蚀剂,在冷却剂中添加一定浓度的氧,可在结构材料表面生成保护性氧化膜,可以极大程度上缓解液态铅铋对结构材料的腐蚀。在铅铋堆中,氧化层的生长-去除行为受温度、氧浓度、冷却剂流速、时间等多种因素影响,同时氧化层的生长也改变了堆芯的热工水力特性和中子物理参数,因此,研究铅铋堆的氧化腐蚀场、热工水力场和中子物理场的耦合作用对铅铋堆应用有重要意义。本文基于MOOSE(面向对象的多物理场仿真环境)平台搭建了核-热-材多物理场耦合框架,开展了铅铋堆在基准工况下的核-热-材耦合分析,并研究了氧浓度和冷却剂入口温度对关键耦合参数时序变化规律和氧化层分布的影响。结果表明,基准工况下氧化腐蚀10 000 h后,燃料组件包壳表面的氧化层平均厚度约为9.86μm,燃料最大温升为13.36 K,k_(eff)下降7 pcm;氧浓度升高可以极有效地抑制磁铁矿溶解,但达到一定浓度后氧浓度的升高对Fe-Cr尖晶石的生长促进作用较小;冷却剂入口温度的升高会导致组件中心处包壳壁面的磁铁矿去除速率增大,并且可以大幅促进Fe-Cr尖晶石的生长。

“华龙一号”MOX燃料再循环方案可行性研究

针对堆后铀和分离钚在压水堆中的复用问题提出以“华龙一号”为应用目标的热堆铀钚混合氧化物(mixed oxide fuel,MOX)燃料再循环方案,设计了与“华龙一号”现用UO_(2)燃料组件等效的2种不同平均钚质量分数的MOX燃料组件,提出了MOX燃料组件中燃料棒的布置方案。进一步提出了“华龙一号”装载30%MOX燃料组件的堆芯管理方案,并通过计算验证了方案的可行性。计算结果表明,装载MOX燃料的反应堆慢化剂温度系数、停堆裕量、核焓升因子、热点因子、循环长度等关键参数均能满足“华龙一号”设计限值要求,证明在“华龙一号”堆芯中装载30%的MOX燃料组件是基本可行的。

Feasibility of Burning Civilian Grade Pu in the Modular HTR with Th Fuel Cycle

The Modular High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTR) can be used to burn plutonium fuel to reduce Pu stockpiles because of its inherent safety characteristics and ability to burn a variety of fuel mixtures. The equilibrium core is calculated and analyzed for Pu enriched fuel. Fuel spheres with 7g heavy metal including the civilian grade Pu and thorium are loaded into the reactor. An enrichment of 11% is chosen to provide the desired equilibrium core reactivity. The fuel and moderator temperature coefficients are both negative. The maximum fuel element temperature during normal operation and during a loss of coolant accident is less than 1500℃. 92% of 239 Pu will be burnt during nomal operation. Therefore, a thorium fuel cycle in the modular HTR is an effective method for burning civilian grade plutonium.

中国快堆及先进核燃料循环体系发展战略思考

中国是世界上最大的发展中国家,能源消耗位列世界第一。为实现社会、经济的可持续发展,确保能源供应安全和降低环境压力,大力发展包括核能在内的清洁能源是能源发展战略的必然选择。目前,中国的核能经过近30年的发展取得了长足进步,但在能源体系中依然占比很小。鉴于中国的铀资源总体储量有限,仅靠热中子反应堆支撑核能作为主力能源发展难以实现。快堆具有资源利用率高、固有安全性好等优点,配以先进核燃料循环系统,可实现核能的大规模、可持续、环境友好的发展。其中,快堆的发展应遵从先增殖、后嬗变的路线,燃料方面在经过氧化物陶瓷燃料后应尽快过渡到金属燃料;后处理方面初期主要通过水法处理压水堆乏燃料,为快堆提供初装料,后续要尽快实现干法后处理,以缩短增殖燃料的倍增时间和提高整个体系的经济性;同时,还需要同步发展高放废物的处理处置技术。在快堆和先进核燃料循环体系的支撑下,我国的核能能实现在千年量级上作为主力能源发展。

球床堆燃料元件循环系统任务剖面的建立

研究了球床堆燃料元件输送的关键子系统——循环系统。针对循环系统的"近等径"球流管路气力输送的动力特性,建立了气动推力表达式以及竖直弯管提升、直管提升等典型管段球流运动模型;在分析系统任务可靠性框图的基础之上,结合管路球流运动分析,建立了循环系统的任务剖面。

基于SCALE的熔盐堆添料与后处理系统分析程序开发及验证

在线添料及在线去除中子毒物是熔盐堆区别于其他固体燃料反应堆的主要特征之一,能够实现较高的燃耗深度和燃料利用率。然而,现有的反应堆物理计算分析软件SCALE不能直接模拟熔盐堆的燃耗计算。因此,本文耦合SCALE中的截面处理模块、临界计算模块以及燃耗计算模块,开发了一套适用于多流体熔盐堆的添料与后处理系统分析程序MSR-RRS,实现熔盐堆的在线添料、裂变产物在线处理或离线批次处理等模拟功能。基于MSR-RRS对现有的单流熔盐增殖堆和双流熔盐快堆的燃耗性能进行了验证。结果表明,MSR-RRS计算结果与基准模型结果符合较好。MSR-RRS适用于多种堆型、多种燃料循环运行模式。

钠冷快堆燃料组件热工水力特性数值模拟与分析

利用CFD程序CFX,分别对7、19、37、61根棒组成的三角形排列螺旋绕丝定位的钠冷快堆燃料组件棒束通道进行了热工水力特性的分析研究,并将结果与子通道程序SuperEnergy进行了对比验证。重点考察了棒束通道轴向流动分布、横向流交混效应及子通道轴向温升,分析了定位绕丝的影响。结果表明,绕丝对棒束通道的横向流交混效应、轴向流动分布及子通道温升有着重要影响,且随棒束的增多,通道内的流动趋向复杂化,轴向流动不均匀性有升高趋势。

钍铀燃料循环专用核数据库CENDL-TMSR-V1的基准检验

中国科学院上海应用物理研究所委托中国核数据中心研制了钍铀燃料循环专用核数据库CENDL-TMSR-V1,用于钍基熔盐实验堆的临界计算及屏蔽设计。为验证该数据库的可靠性,根据钍基熔盐实验堆的特点,从国际核临界安全手册中挑选了一系列基准实验装置进行基准检验。检验结果表明,绝大部分基准装置的k eff计算结果与实验数据的相对误差在0.5%以内,证明CENDL-TMSR-V1具有较好的可靠性和适用性,可用于钍基熔盐实验堆的物理设计。

钠冷快堆乏燃料组件自然循环冷却瞬态过程的数值模拟研究

应用Fluent程序,对处于氩气中的钠冷快堆乏燃料组件自然循环冷却瞬态过程进行了三维数值模拟。计算获得了乏燃料组件内部冷却剂通道和外部区域的热工水力学现象及变化规律。结果表明:利用标记区域分割方法,将燃料棒间隙网格划分为绕丝网格和绕丝周边流体域网格,能在棒束区生成高质量结构化网格;在氩气自然循环冷却瞬态过程中,棒束区内子通道氩气流量增加速度落后于边子通道,内子通道升温更快;乏燃料组件棒束区温度在轴向呈现中心高、边缘低的分布特征;为避免包壳温度超过设计值,乏燃料组件处于氩气中的时间不宜超过6min。

球床式高温气冷堆在线燃耗测量中^239Pu的影响分析

高温气冷堆中,燃料的平均燃耗比较深。随着235U的消耗和239Pu的累积,239Pu的裂变就将成为一个不可忽略的部分。通过理论计算,讨论了239Pu的裂变对于燃耗测量的影响。计算表明,当燃料球燃耗达到80 000(MW.d)/t(U)时,239Pu的裂变所贡献的燃耗份额约26.7%,239Pu裂变产生的137Cs和134Cs分别占其各自总活度的27.2%和23.2%;比较而言,利用137Cs活度来计算燃耗的方法比用活度比134Cs/137Cs好。