The concept of a fast reactor with liquid metal fuel in tungsten capsules

Abstract

The concept of a dual-purpose high-power nuclear reactor is proposed. One of the goals is the production of electricity, the other is the production of high-potential thermal energy. It is proposed to use liquid fuel based on waste uranium and plutonium extracted from the spent fuel of VVER reactors (purified from the 238Pu isotope). The fuel is in sealed tungsten capsules. Lead extracted from thorium ores is used to cool the reactor. The electrical power of the reactor is 3.3 GW. The layout of the reactor is identical to the BREST-OD-300 reactor under construction. The analysis of emergency modes from among ATWS (anticipated transients without scram) is carried out. The reactor is reliable and safe. The maximum temperature of a high-temperature reactor coolant is close to the boiling point of lead. By the nature of the change in the maximum temperatures of the core components, the reactor occupies an intermediate position between a reactor with solid metallic fuel and a reactor with cermets based on UN-PuN and metal uranium nanopowder.