Fast Reactor Cycle Technology

The fast reactor development programme is a key part of the Japanese policy for greater energy independence. The feasibility studies on commercialised fast reactors cycle systems are in progress. The Japanese R D are being focused on the design of the candidate concepts and on fundamental tests of key technologies. 

OKA, Y., et al.. Systems design of direct-cycle supercritical water cooled fast reactors. Nuclear Technology,. 109, pp. 1-10 (1995). 

Y. Oka, S. Koshizuka, T. Jevremovic and Y. Okano, Systems Design of Direct-Cycle Supercritical-Water-Cooled Fast Reactors, Nuclear Technology, Vol. 109, 1-10 (1995)... 

K. Kitoh, S. Koshizuka and Y. Oka, Pressure and Flow-Induced Accident and Transient Analysis of a Direct-Cycle, Supercritical-Pressure, Light-Water-Cooled Fast Reactor, Nuclear Technology, Vol. 123, 233-244 (1998)... 

Walter, S., Liauw, M., Fast concentration cycling in microchannel reactors, in Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Microreaction Technology,... 

Flowers, R. H., Johnson, K. D. B., Miles, J. H., and Webster, R. K., "Possible Long Term Options for the Fast Reactor Plutonium Fuel Cycle," Paper presented at the 5th Energy Technology Conf., Washington, D. C., 1978. 

The nonproliferation regime may be technologically supported in the fuel cycle of a fast reactor with full fuel reproduction in the core owing to the following ... 

A metallic fuel is used in the 4S core in consideration of pyro-reprocessing. A fast reactor technology using a metal fuel based cycle (pyro-processing of spent fuel) appears to be a promising approach [XV-4]. The technology is of value because it has the potential to simplify reprocessing and fuel fabrication processes and nuclear waste disposal, and also could help reduce fuel cycle costs. 

XIX-12] ZRODNIKOV, A.V., et al.. Multipurpose lead-bismuth cooled small power modular fast reactor SVBR-75/100, IAEA International Conference on Innovative Nuclear Technologies and Innovative Fuel Cycles, (Proc. Int. Conf June, 2003) Report IAEA CN-108-36, Vienna (2003). 

XXni-5] SIENICKI, J.J., et al.. The STAR-LM lead-cooled closed fuel cycle fast reactor with a supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle advanced power converter, Russian Forum for Science and Technology FAST NEUTRON REACTORS, HLMC-2003 (Paper presented at the 2 Int. Conf. on Heavy Liquid Metal Coolants in Nuclear Technologies, Obninsk, Russia, December 8-12, 2003), paper 2105. 

XXIV-15] HANNUM, W., guest editor. The technology of the integral fast reactor and its associated fuel cycle. Special issue, Vol. 31. No. 1/2 of Progress in Nuclear Energy, ISSN 0149-1970 (1997). 

HANNUM, W.H., guest editor. The Technology of the Integral Fast Reactor and Its Associated Fuel Cycle - Special Issue of Progression Nuclear Energy, Vol. 31, Number V2 (1997). 

MOXfuel with high Pu content The plutonium content of the MOX fuel now in use in fast reactors is 20-25%. With a maximum of 45% Pu content, oxide appears to be compatible with the existing fuel cycle technology. Very limited experimental data on the irradiation behavior of MOX fuel with high Pu content are available in the literature ... 

Integral fast reactor fuel cycle technology development... 

An important feature of the above potential uses of fast reactors is that in all cases the reactor cannot be considered separately form the entire nuclear fuel cycle. In any future developments the technology of the fabrication and reprocessing of the fuel and the treatment of the waste will interact with that of the reactor, and the economics and environmental impact of the whole fuel cycle, not just the reactor, will determine commercial e q)loitation. The Japanese "Self-Consistent Nuclear Energy System" (SCNES) illustrates this approach. The objective of the SCNES is a nuclear power facility, incorporating reactors and fuel cycle plants, which consumes nothing but U-238 and emits nothing but electric power, waste heat, and useful radioactive materials. This is a vision for the middle of the next century at the earliest, but in the nearer future ideas of this type are likely to become increasingly influential. 

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