LIFE hybrid reactor as reactor grade plutonium burner

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Date

2012

Authors

Şahin, Sümer
Sahin, Haci Mehmet
Acir, Adem

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Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd

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Department of Mechanical Engineering
(2016)
The Mechanical Engineering Doctoral Program has started in 2016-2017 academic year. We have highly qualified teaching and research faculty members and strong research infrastructure in the department for graduate work. Research areas include computational and experimental research in fluid and solid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, advanced manufacturing, composites and other advanced materials. Our fundamental mission is to train engineers who are able to work with advanced technology, create innovative approaches and authentic designs, apply research methods effectively, conduct research and develop high quality methods and products in space, aviation, defense, medical and automotive industries, with a contemporary education and research infrastructure.

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Abstract

The early version of the conceptual modified design of the Laser Inertial Confinement Fusion Fission Energy (LIFE) engine consists of a spherical fusion chamber of 5 m diameter, surrounded by a multi-layered blanket. The first wall is made of 2 cm thick ODS and followed by a Li17Pb83 zone (2 cm), acting as neutron multiplier, tritium breeding and front coolant zone. It is separated by an ODS layer (2 cm) from the FLIBE molten salt zone (50 cm), containing fissionable fuel. A 3rd ODS layer (2 cm) separates the molten salt zone on the right side from the graphite reflector (30 cm). Calculations have been conducted for a constant fusion driver power of 500 MWth, in S-8-P-3 approximation using 238-neutron groups. Reactor grade (RG) plutonium carbide fuel in form of TRISO particles with volume fractions of 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% and 6% have been dispersed homogenously in the FLIBE coolant. Tritium breeding ratio (TBR) values per incident fusion neutron for the above cited cases start with TBR = 1.35, 1.52, 1.73, 2.02 and 2.47, respectively. With the depletion of fissionable RG-Pu isotopes, TBR decreases gradually. At startup, higher fissionable fuel content in the molten salt leads to higher blanket energy multiplication, namely M-0 = 3.8, 5.5, 7.7, 10.8 and 15.4 with 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% and 6% TRISO volume fraction, respectively. Calculations have led to very high burn up values (>400,000 MD.D/MT). TRISO particles can withstand such high burn ups. Such high burn ups would lead to drastic reduction of final nuclear waste per unit energy production. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Keywords

Inertial fusion energy, TRISO fuel, FLIBE molten salt, National ignition facility, Reactor-grade plutonium, Fusion-fission (hybrid) reactors

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21

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Volume

63

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Start Page

44

End Page

50

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