Conceptual design of an ultra-high flux fast reactor with strong irradiation capability

From an engineering feasibility standpoint, what level of performance metrics can be ultimately achieved when designing a reactor using well-established nuclear fuels and structural materials that have already undergone irradiation testing? The irradiation capability, which hinges on parameters like neutron flux level, irradiation channels’ volume, and fuel cycle duration, is a core indicator for high-flux reactors. We propose a conceptual design of an ultra-high flux fast reactor (UFFR) with strong irradiation capability, which utilizes U-20Pu-10Zr alloy fuel and employs lead-bismuth as the coolant. The maximum neutron flux in the core reaches 1.32×1016 cm−2 s−1, while the average neutron flux in the irradiation channels attains 1.19×1016 cm−2 s−1. The volume of the central irradiation channel exceeds 10000 cm3, and the fuel cycle duration is 165 d, placing all its performance indicators among the top in the world. Based on the analyses of reactor physics and thermal-hydraulics, it has been demonstrated that all reactivity coefficients are negative and all physical parameters meet the design criteria, ensuring the inherent safety of UFFR. An assessment of the irradiation capability has been carried out based on californium-252 (252Cf) production, indicating that the irradiation capability of UFFR surpasses that of the high flux isotope reactor (HFIR). The yield of 252Cf from UFFR is 14.39 times that of HFIR, and its nuclei conversion rate is 3.21 times that of HFIR.