Category-Ill Reactor

Significant cost savings in security and development can be had if the reactor uses a Category-Ill level of SNM rather than Category I. Security for facilities with highly enriched fuel on site can cost roughly 30 M per year and the slow down in experimental operations caused by this security can cause an additional cost. The first option requires a well-moderated reactor the second requires a somewhat moderated reactor. The first option may end up being very limited in power and lifetime because of fuel bumup the second option has more latitude for power and bumup. 

A Category-Ill space reactor was not designed for this study. But consideration was made for a Category-Ill reactor that would simulate the behavior of a Category-I space reactor. The intent would be to make preliminary nuclear-heated ground tests less 

The changeover to a thermal system requires the use of a high temperature moderator. 

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