Reactivity Runaway Reduction When Using Enriched Uranium in a Lead Fast Reactor

Abstract

The possibilities for reactivity runaway reduction in a fast reactor when using enriched uranium are examined. Specifically, an approach supposing partial compensation of reactivity runaway by the addition of Np or Am, as consumable absorbers, into the starting load is analyzed. It is shown that from the standpoint of the development of large-scale nuclear power generation based on BREST-type reactors the use of a uranium starting load becomes inexpedient in implementing this approach. A starting load consisting of a mixture of enriched uranium and plutonium from spent RBMK fuel is studied. The results indicate that it is possible to develop a core with reactivity runaway not exceeding the effective delayed-neutron fraction during the entire period of operation. The neutronics characteristics were calculated using the Arktika multigroup diffusion code. The RISK code was used to determine the change in the nuclide composition.