Resolution of Proliferation Issues for a Sodium Fast Reactor Blanket
Author(s)
Stauff, Nicolas; Driscoll, Michael J; Forget, Benoit Robert Yves; Hejzlar, Pavel
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Breeding blankets are of interest for a sodium fast reactor (SFR) as they allow for small cores to have positive breeding gains. However, because they breed very high-quality plutonium, core designers are not currently encouraged to employ blankets. After verifying that the ERANOS code was in good agreement with BGcore, a Monte Carlo-based depletion system, it was shown that an SFR blanket design could breed less attractive plutonium than light water reactor (LWR)-bred plutonium for making a nuclear explosive device. Minor actinide (MA) doping and moderator addition were the two options studied. This study shows that it is possible to build an SFR with a secure blanket with MA addition; at steady state MAs from approximately 1.5 LWRs are required per SFR [both rated at 1 GW(electric)].
Date issued
2010-06Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Nuclear Science and EngineeringJournal
Nuclear Technology
Publisher
American Nuclear Society
Citation
Stauff, N. E.; Driscoll, M. J.; Forget, B. and Hejzlar, P. “Resolution of Proliferation Issues for a Sodium Fast Reactor Blanket.” Nuclear Technology 170, no. 3 (June 2010): 371-382
Version: Author's final manuscript
ISSN
0029-5450
1943-7471