The first version is the demonstration concept using highly neutronically reactive u15n fuel in a. Gascooled reactor definition of gascooled reactor by. Gascooled fast reactor gfr fuel and incore fuel management. The research is directed towards developing the gfr as an economic electricity generator, with good safety and sustainability characteristics. Most early gascooled reactors were co 2 cooled, graphite moderated, natural uranium reactors developed primarily for plutonium production mainly in uk and france. Six reactor types have been selected for further research and evaluation in the generation iv framework, the gas cooled fast reactor being one of the six concepts. The gascooled fast reactor gfr system is a nuclear reactor design which is currently in development. The diagram below shows the production of steam using a gas cooled nuclear reactor. An investigation of control rod shadowing and antishadowing interactioneffects in a large 2400 mwth gas cooled fast reactor1, 2 gfr has been performed and is presented in this paper. Gascooled fast reactor gfr research is directed towards fulfilling the ambitious goals of generation iv gen iv, that is, to develop a safe, sustainable, reliable, proliferationresistant and economic nuclear energy system. Advanced fuel assembly for sodium cooled fast reactors. The gas cooled fast reactor gfr system is one of six generation iv systems selected for cooperative research and development by the generation iv international forum.
Classed as a generation iv reactor, it features a fastneutron spectrum and closed fuel cycle for efficient conversion of fertile uranium and management of actinides. Survive loss of active reactivity shutdown capability without core damage a full recycling of actinides. The concept of a sealed small fast reactor of 10mw with 30year core lifetime and nonrefueling was constructed by these s. Gascooled fast reactor technology historical gfr concepts as well as the generation iv gfrs represent an alternative to liquid metalcooled fast reactors lmfrs.
Although there are many other types of reactor cooled by gas, the terms gcr and to a lesser extent gas cooled reactor are particularly used to refer to this type of reactor. The gascooled fast reactor gfr system is one of six generation iv systems selected for cooperative research and development by the generation iv international forum. Proceedings of icapp 06 reno, nv usa, june 48, 2006 paper 6311 gcfr. In the generation iv documents, the concept is commonly. Hydrogen production for steam electrolysis using a. A gas cooled reactor gcr is a nuclear reactor that uses graphite as a neutron moderator and carbon dioxide as coolant.
Abstract in march 2005, the european commission ec initiated a new 4year project on gas. The gen iv gas cooled fast reactor nuclear energy agency. Fuel development for gascooled fast reactors request pdf. The gfr system is a hightemperature helium cooled fast spectrum reactor with a closed fuel cycle. As described in xenergy introduced its company and first product to virginia chapter of ans, xenergy is a startup company based in maryland that is developing a modular high temperature gas cooled reactor. More efficient use of fuel reduced volumes and radiotoxicity of high level waste sodium cooled fast reactors are the shortest route to fr deployment, but. The gas cooled fast reactor gfr is one of the six reactor concepts selected in the frame of the generation iv initiative. Report describing the performance characteristics of gas cooled fast reactors, which compare well with those of sodium cooled fast reactors. The european unions gas cooled fast reactor project. All these reactors are primarily fuelled by triso tri isostructural coated particles.
The gfr uses a directcycle helium turbine for electricity generation, or can optionally use its process heat for production of hydrogen. Gascooled fast reactorsstatus of cea preliminary design. Core design and reactor physics of a breed and burn gas. Sodiumfast reactors molten salt fast reactors elysium usa. Sfr sodiumcooled fast reactor lfr leadcooled fast reactor gfr gascooled fast reactor minor actinide destruction and plutonium management sustainability and proliferation benefits. Generation iv fast reactors university of cambridge. The term leadcooled fast reactor lfr usually applies to a fast reactor utilizing either of two heavy liquid metal coolant materials. Oct 18, 2009 gascooled fast reactor public domain public domain false false this work is in the public domain in the united states because it is a work prepared by an officer or employee of the united states government as part of that persons official duties under the terms of title 17, chapter 1, section 105 of the us code. The gascooled fast reactor gfr has been chosen as one of six candidates for development as a generation iv nuclear reactor based on. The scgfr concept is presented in this report as a transformational. Reactor vessel and the integrated equipment were arranged at same elevation. Sodium cooled sfr lead cooled lfr gas cooled gfr molten salt fast reactor msfr conclusions. Although there are many other types of reactor cooled by gas, the terms gcr and to a lesser extent gas cooled reactor are particularly used to refer to this type of reactor the gcr was able to use natural uranium as fuel, enabling the countries that developed them to.
Gif symposium 2012 slide 4 motivation for gas cooled fast reactors fast reactors are important for the sustainability of nuclear power. Successful decay heat removal under wide range of pressurized and depressurized conditions. Introduction in the pool type sodium cooled fast reactor sfr, the pool design has an argon gas blanket cover gas region sandwiched between the surface of hot sodium pool and the roof structure of the reactor vessel sinai et al. A study is being undertaken on possible improvements to the advanced gas cooled reactor to assess the prospects for further development and improvement of this reactor system. The gfr system is a hightemperature heliumcooled fastspectrum reactor with a closed fuel cycle. With oxide fuel and helium, co2, and so2 coolant at pressures of to 1500 psia, the reactors have slightly higher breeding. The first version is the demonstration concept using highly neutronically reactive u15n fuel in a hexagonal pin fuel array that is nearly 50 vo fuel. The first is lead pb itself which has excellent cooling properties and a melting temperature of 327.
Initial preparatory phase should provide basic documents, that can facilitate key. The most significant gfr option is the use of a helium high temperature primary coolant. Hightemperature gas cooled reactors htgr liquid metal cooled fast reactors lmfr molten salt reactors msr geh vtr arc. The gas cooled fast reactor gfr has been chosen as one of six candidates for development as a generation iv nuclear reactor based on.
Magnox magnesium alloyuk and ungguranium natural graphite gas france coolant gas supplied by circulator. One of the key issues in the design of the gen iv gfr allegro, a heliumcooled experimental fast reactor, is the reliable core cooling in accident. A cross sectional view of the gascooled reactor concept is shown in figure 3 and a more detailed view is in figwe 4. Supercritical water cooled reactor a supercritical water cooled reactor is a concept reactor that would use water at such a high temperature and pressure that the liquid and gas phases are no longer distinct. Why the molten salt fast reactor msfr is the best gen. The fuels were in the form of coated particles of tho2, th,uo2, thc2 and. Sep 01, 2005 the gascooled fast reactor gfr was chosen as one of the generation iv nuclear reactor systems to be developed based on its excellent potential for sustainability through reduction of the volume and radio toxicity of both its own fuel and other spent nuclear fuel, and for extendingutilizing uranium resources orders of magnitude beyond what the current open fuel cycle can realize. Gas cooled reactor natural uranium, graphitemoderated reactors were developed in the united states during world war ii for the conversion of 238u to 239pu for military purposes. The pin assembly consists of the fuel pin placed in a core matrix hastellay x to form an annular flow passage including a re riinwrap spacer. In the gener ation iv documents, the concept is commonly refer re d to a s ga s fast rea cto r, abb rev ia ted gf r, an d we. A precooling injection is needed to cool down the steam generator, which remains with high pressure and high temperature level after emergency shutdown of high temperature gas cooled reactor. Concept of gas cooled fast reactor gfr was developed at cea france as. It is designed as a modular, gridcapable power source with a net unit output of 265 mwe.
Em 2 is a heliumcooled fast reactor with a core outlet temperature of 850c. A gascooled reactor gcr is a nuclear reactor that uses graphite as a neutron moderator and carbon dioxide as coolant. Sodiumcooled fast reactor public domain public domain false false this work is in the public domain in the united states because it is a work prepared by an officer or employee of the united states government as part of that persons official duties under the terms of title 17, chapter 1, section 105 of the us code. Thermal reactor a thermal reactor is a reactor that uses slow neutrons. The sodium fast reactor sfr uses a supercritical rankine conversion cycle with a reactor outlet temperature of 5000c. This approach is similar to the 30 mwhttrgas cooled reactor. Xe100 helium gas flow path in the primary coolant loop. Gascooled fast reactor public domain public domain false false this work is in the public domain in the united states because it is a work prepared by an officer or employee of the united states government as part of that persons official duties under the terms of title 17, chapter 1, section 105 of the us code. The second core using the ceramic fuel will serve for testing the new fuel design. Advanced reactor examples 3 leadfast reactors westinghouse lfr. Pdf gas cooled fast reactor research and development in the. In metal fueled sodium cooled fast reactors, a solid cylindrical metal fuel slug is encapsulated within the cladding and liquid sodium added as a thermal bond between the fuel and cladding.
Jan 21, 20 gas cooled reactor natural uranium, graphitemoderated reactors were developed in the united states during world war ii for the conversion of 238u to 239pu for military purposes. Technology demonstration reactor etdr, which is designed to be the first gas cooled fast reactor to be constructed. The european unions gas cooled fast reactor project colin mitchell nnc1, christian poette cea2, karen peers nnc1, paul coddington psi3, joe somers jrc itu4, george vangoethem ec 5 1 national nuclear corporation limited, booths park, chelford rd, knutsford, uk tel. In the generation iv documents, the concept is commonly referred to as. Pete pappano, vice president of fuel development for xenergy. The most common choices for gascooled fast reactors are helium. Gas cooled fast reactor gfr research is directed towards fulfilling the ambitious goals of generation iv gen iv, that is, to develop a safe, sustainable, reliable, proliferationresistant and economic nuclear energy system. The reactor employs a convert and burn core design which converts fertile isotopes to fissile and burns them in situ over a 30year core life. The gascooled fast reactor gfr was chosen as one of the generation iv nuclear reactor systems to be developed based on its excellent potential for sustainability through reduction of the volume and radio toxicity of both its own fuel and other spent nuclear fuel, and for extendingutilizing uranium resources orders of magnitude beyond what the current open fuel cycle can realize. The etdr will be fuelled initially with traditional fast reactor mox fuel in stainless steel cladding and will progressively test advanced gfr fuels 540.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. In the generation iv documents, the concept is commonly referred to as gas fast reactor, abbreviated gfr, and we will follow this convention for the remainder of this paper. A gas cooled nuclear reactor consists of the reactor itself and a heat. A free volume fission gas plenum is provided in the upper part of the fuel pin to reduce the pressure due to fission gas release from the fuel. Characterisation of sodium aerosol in cover gas region of. The gascooled fast reactor gfr is one of the six reactor concepts selected in the frame of the generation iv initiative. High temperature gascooled reactor htgr, which is a graphite moderated, helium cooled reactor, is particularly attractive due to capability of producing high temperature helium gas and its inherent safety characteristics, as well as an option to efficiently burn weaponsgrade plutonium for energy production. As a result, the reactor building became compact22m x 16m. The gfr features a fast neutron spectrum and closed fuel cycle for efficient conversion of fertile uranium and management of actinides. High temperature gas cooled reactor in the past, thoriumbased fuels have been successfully utilized in helium cooled high temperature gas cooled reactors htgrs in germany, usa 53, japan and the russian federation. Allegro cannot use this type of fuel from the very beginning since this fuel is not developed and cannot be qualified without irradiations in gfr conditions and the subsequent pie. There are currently 438 nuclear power plants operating in 30 countries and only 1 of these is a fast reactor. Sodiumcooled fast reactor public domain public domain false false this work is in the public domain in the united states because it is a work prepared by an officer or employee of the united states government as part of that persons official duties under the terms of.
The gfr features a fastneutron spectrum and closed fuel cycle for efficient conversion of fertile uranium and management of actinides. Significant efforts are underway in several member states to develop high temperature gas cooled reactors htgr based on either pebble bed or prismatic designs. Reactor msbr, and the gascooled fast breeder reactor gcfr. No gascooled fast reactors have ever been constructed ga led efforts to develop a gascooled fast breeder reactor in the 1970s. C gas cooled reactor gas cooled graphite moderator reactor gcgm high temperature gas cooled reactor htgc. The use of gases leads to a harder neutron spectrum compared with the fast reactor cores of sodium. Thorium fuel cycle potential benefits and challenges. Gas cooled reactor article about gas cooled reactor by. The concept is a combination of the co2 cooled advanced gas reactor agr developed and operated in the united kingdom uk shropshire, 2004 and the direct cycle gas cooled fast reactor gfr concept gif, 2002. The space reactor contains suflicient rhenium a neutron poison to make the reactor subcritical under water immersion accidents without the use of internal shutdown rods. An investigation of control rod shadowing and antishadowing interactioneffects in a large 2400 mwth gascooled fast reactor1, 2 gfr has been performed and is presented in this paper. Report describing the performance characteristics of gascooled fast reactors, which compare well with those of sodiumcooled fast reactors.
Sodium as a fast reactor coolant brave new climate. Technology demonstration as a first gascooled fast reactor. Most first generation gascooled power plants were designed and built in the uk the magnox series and in france the nugg. It combines the advantages of fast spectrum systems for longterm sustainability of uranium resources and waste minimisation through fuel multiple reprocessing and fission of longlived actinides, with those of hightemperature systems high thermal cycle efficiency and industrial use of the. High temperature gas cooled reactor fuels and materials. Gas cooled fast reactor international nuclear iaea. It combines the advantages of fastspectrum systems for longterm sustainability of uranium resources and waste minimisation through fuel multiple reprocessing and fission of longlived actinides, with those of hightemperature systems high thermal cycle efficiency and industrial use of the. Decay heat removal studies in gas cooled fast reactor during.
The high temperature gascooled reactor next generation nuclear. With oxide fuel and helium, co2, and so2 coolant at pressures of to 1500 psia, the reactors have slightly higher breeding ratios than comparable sodium cooled reactors. The use of gases leads to a harder neutron spectrum compared with the fast reactor cores of sodium and leadcooled fast reactors waltar et al. Most first generation gas cooled power plants were designed and built in the uk the magnox series and in france the nugg. A gascooled nuclear reactor consists of the reactor itself and a heat. As a one of fast reactor would produce heat about 850c, which will be able to. Sodium cooled fast reactor hideki kamide, sodium fast reactor internaonal workshop on advanced reactor systems and future energy market needs apr. Weaver et al, gas cooled fast reactor gfr fuel and incore fuel management memorias cic cancun 2004 en cdrom 212 proceedings ijm cancun 2004 on cdrom 1. Supercritical co direct cycle gas fast reactor scgfr. The reactor shall be operated with two different cores. Sodium fast reactors molten salt fast reactors elysium usa. Advanced reactor examples 3 lead fast reactors westinghouse lfr. This report investigates the feasibility of high temperature steam electrolysis htse coupled with an advanced gascooled fast reactor gfr utilizing supercritical carbon. Reactor msbr, and the gas cooled fast breeder reactor gcfr.
The organizations participating in the gcfr project consist of. Gas cooled fast reactor scheme the gas cooled fast reactor gfr system is a nuclear reactor design which is currently in development. Introduction and background the generation iv international forum gif is currently comprised of 11 organizations, and has. Gas cooled fast reactors will be fuelled with so called refractory fuel, most probably upuc carbide pellets in sicsic f tubes. Gas cooled fast reactor being one of the six concepts. Classed as a generation iv reactor, it features a fast neutron spectrum and closed fuel cycle for efficient conversion of fertile uranium and management of actinides. Historical gfr concepts as well as the generation iv gfrs represent an alternative to liquid metalcooled fast reactors lmfrs. High temperature gas cooled reactor htgr, which is a graphite moderated, helium cooled reactor, is particularly attractive due to capability of producing high temperature helium gas and its inherent safety characteristics, as well as an option to efficiently burn weaponsgrade plutonium for energy production. An integral fast reactor is a liquid metalcooled fast reactor using metal fuel and integrated with an onsite fuel recycling plant. Different advanced reactor designs being developed by industry gas fast reactors ge hitachi prism. This approach is similar to the 30 mwhttrgas cooled reactor that is operating in japan and that has gas exit temperatures of 11231223 k saito, 2002.
The generation iv gas cooled fast reactor gfr concept is proposed to combine the advantages of hightemperature gas cooled reactors such as efficient direct conversion with a gas turbine and. This report investigates the feasibility of high temperature steam electrolysis htse coupled with an advanced gas cooled fast reactor gfr utilizing supercritical carbon dioxide scosubscript 2 as the coolant. The allegro experimental gas cooled fast reactor project. Nuclear energy can be used to produce hydrogen through thermochemical andor electrochemical processes. This nuclear renaissance would have to be implemented with breeder reactors because todays commercial nuclear fuel cycle is unsustainable and based upon a fuel. Successful development of the lwbr would make available about 50% of the potential energy of thorium fuel resources. Pdf gascooled fast reactor gfr research is directed towards fulfilling the ambitious goals of generation iv gen iv, that is, to develop a safe. Gas cooled fast reactors gfrs share the positive attributes of fast reactors. Larger mass flow rate of precooling water injection will accelerate the precooling process, but the temperature descending rate of the structures should also be limited to avoid the potential damage on the.
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