Fast Reactors: A Solution to Fight Against Global Warming presents the current status of fast-reactor nuclear generation technology, with a focus on ecology and sustainability benefits for the future. Author Joel Guidez analyzes past failures and limited deployment reasons to help drive this power generation method forward to a cleaner and more sustainable energy environment. The book covers safety aspects, short-life waste management, multirecycling, and biodiversity preservation to provide a well-rounded reference on the topic.
Author(s): Joel Guidez
Publisher: Academic Press
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 225
City: London
Front Cover
Fast Reactors: A Solution to Fight Against Global Warming
Copyright
Contents
About the author
Foreword
References
Introduction
Chapter 1 Where do Homo sapiens get their energy?
Some history
Global warming
What are the energy needs of the future?
The return of the electricity fairy?
Electrical energy without CO 2 production?
A world powered by renewables alone?
New research for the future?
And nuclear?
The new nuclear?
Conclusion
References
Chapter 2 What are the advantages of fast reactors?
Fissile and fertile material
Reminder on the principle of fast reactors
Operation of water reactors without spent fuel reprocessing
Water reactors with fuel reprocessing
Reminder on the fuel cycle of fast reactors
Reactors that no longer need mining and fuel enrichment
Almost unlimited energy
Energy that produces neither CO 2 nor dust
An energy that has almost zero chemical release in reactor operation
Operation that minimizes staff dosimetry
Energy that decreases the global amount of radioactive waste
An energy that can drastically reduce the duration final nuclear waste is hazardous
A small ecological footprint
Conclusion
References
Chapter 3 Fast reactors exist, I’ve met them
Introduction
The very-high-temperature reactor
The supercritical water reactor
The gas-cooled fast reactor
The lead-cooled fast reactor
The sodium-cooled fast reactor
The molten salt reactor
Conclusions
Chapter 4 Analysis of the reasons for the failure to deploy sodium-cooled fast reactors globally in 2021
Assessment of sodium-cooled fast reactors in the world in 2021
Technical difficulties specific to the sodium sector?
The additional cost compared with PWRs?
Industrial domination of PWRs
Specific safety issues?
The proliferation risk
Existence of reprocessing plants
Fast reactor fuel manufacturing
Social acceptance
The loss of skills
Uranium availability
Conclusions
References
Chapter 5 What fuel for a sodium-cooled fast reactor?
Introduction
Oxide fuel
Metallic fuel
Carbide fuel
Nitride fuel
Fuel/manufacturing
Fuel/reprocessing
A choice of fuel according to applications and strategy?
Conclusion
Chapter 6 Update on the technical state of sodium-cooled fast reactors in Europe
The ESFR-SMART project
History of sodium-cooled fast reactors in Europe
Safety improvement: Objectives and methodology
Some examples of safety improvement approach in the ESFR-smart
Reactivity control
New core concept with reduced sodium void effect
Passive control rods
Ultrasonic measurements to evaluate core geometry
Practically eliminated situations
Containment
Reactor pit taking over the functions of the safety vessel
In-vessel core catcher
Massive metallic roof
Leak tightness of roof penetrations
Decay heat removal
Sodium fire
Sodium-water reaction
Dosimetry and releases
Simplicity and human factor
Description of ESFR-SMART primary system including these new options
General plant characteristics
Core
Main vessel
Inner vessel
Reactor roof
Reactor pit
Dhrs-3
Primary sodium confinement
Core support structure and connection to pump
Core catcher
Primary pump
Intermediate heat exchanger
Decay heat removal concept
Polar table or dome
Description of ESFR-SMART secondary loops
General description of ESFR-SMART secondary loop
Secondary pump
Steam generator
DHRS-1 system
Piping
Safety analysis of the secondary loop
General layout of the plant
Handling systems
Spent fuel handling
Fresh fuel handling
Handling of components
Conclusions on safety improvements
R&D needs for ESFR-smart options
Conclusion
Acknowledgment
References
Chapter 7 Update on molten salt fast reactors
Principle of operation of molten salt reactors
The possible types of MSR
Experience feedback on MSRs
Choice of salt (FLiBe)
The materials
Neutronics and flows in the primary
Heat extraction
Salt processing
Final balance sheet
The potential benefits of MSRs
The advantages of MSR in terms of safety
The advantages of MSRs in terms of the fuel cycle
Incineration
The advantages of MSR in terms of network monitoring
Startup of the reactor
Reactor shutdown
The potential advantages of MSRs in terms of compactness
Situation of MSRs in the world in 2021
Chinese program
Russian program
Indian program
Anglo-Saxon startup projects
Terrestrial energy’s integral molten salt reactor in Canada
The TerraPower molten chloride fast reactor
The molten chloride salt fast reactor of elysium industry
The transatomic power reactor (project of MIT)
Thorcon power
Liquid fluoride thorium reactor of flibe energy
Analysis of the different concepts
Special situation of France
The technical challenges of MSRs
Choice of salt
Neutronic
Neutronics and isotope separation
Choice of material
Salt/fuel chemistry
Fission gas management
Choice of intermediate fluid
The components
Pumps
Exchangers
Valves
Preheating
Drain tanks
Electricity generating circuit
Instrumentation
Temperature measurement
Flowrate measurements
Neutron measurements
Level and pressure measurements
Monitoring the chemical compositions of salt
Leak detection/dosimetry
In-service inspection
Security approach and licensing
Confinement
Evacuation of residual power
Initiating event lists
Barriers
Conclusion on safety
Waste and dismantling
Reprocessing
Proliferation
Conclusion
References
Chapter 8 Conclusion: What future for fast reactors and our planet?
Appendix 1 Appendix 1: Lessons learned from sodium-cooled fast reactor operation
Sodium-water reactions
Handling operations
Operation of primary components (pumps and exchangers)
Spurious leaks or transfers of sodium
Intake of air or impurities or gas
Experience from fuel and clad failures
Material problems
Neutronic operations and control
Sodium aerosols
Conclusion
References
Appendix 2 Appendix 2: Industrial demonstration of the fuel cycle of a sodium-cooled fast reactor
Phénix fuel reprocessing experiment
Review of experience feedback on reprocessing techniques
Conclusion on the reprocessing
Feedback on fuel fabrication
Applications for the reactors of the future
Further reading
Appendix 3 Appendix 3: Choice of fuel salt for a U/Pu cycle molten salt reactor
Treatment of fluoride salts
Operating and U/Pu solubility temperatures for chlorides
Neutron analysis of the different types of salts
Treatment of chloride salts
General conclusion and recommendations
References
Index
Back Cover
