Liquid metal fuel reactor

Distribution coefficients may be further modified and operating temperatures reduced by dissolving uranium fuel in a low-melting metal such as bismuth or zinc. Separation of uranium from fission products by liquid extraction between molten bismuth and fused chlorides was extensively studied at Brookhaven National Laboratory [D5] in connection with the liquid-metal fuel reactor (LMFR), which used a dilute solution of in bismuth as fuel. Extraction of fission products from molten plutonium by fused chlorides was studied at Los Alamos [L2] in connection with the LAMPRE reactor. 

Several fluid-fueled reactors have been built and operated as experiments. The concept is that fuel is contained within the coolant. Systems of this type include aqueous fuel systems, liquid metal-fueled systems, molten salt systems, and gaseous suspension systems. The homogeneous reactor experiment was constructed and operated at Oak Ridge Nahonal Laboratory, as was the Molten-Salt Reactor experiment. A liquid metal fuel reactor experiment was operated at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Power reactors of this type have not been built. 

CoMPAUisoN OF Graphite-Moderated Molten-Salt AND Liquid-Metal-Fueled Reactors... 

Babcock and Wilcox Co., Liquid Metal Fuel Reactor, Technical Feasi-bUily Report, USAEC Report BAW-2(Del.), 1955. 

Liquid-Metal Fuel Reactor D( sign Study... 

This is the most extensive discussion of hquid-metal fuel reactor development yet published in the United States. Emphasis has been placed on the Liquid Aletal Fuel Reactor being developed by Brookhaven National Laboratory and Babcock Wilcox Co. because it is the most advanced project. Work on various phases of liquid-metal fuel reactors is being carried out by Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, Raytheon Manufacturing Co., Argonne National Laboratory, Ames Laboratory, and Atomics International. The editor would like to have given more coverage to work at the last three locations but was unable to because time was lacking. 

Liquid metal fuel reactors have received attention since the early days of reactor technology. The concept of a high-temperature fluid fuel which could be circulated for both heat exchange and chemical processing has been an intriguing one [1-4]. 

General Characteristics of Liquid Metal Fuel Reactors ... 

Comparison of fluid- and solid-fuel reactors. In order to better understand the development and characteristics of the Liquid Metal Fuel Reactor, fluid- and solid-fuel reactors should be (compared, and a distinction should be made between the features of fluid fuels in general and those of liquid metal fuels in particular. 

Because of items (4) and (5) above, liquid metal fuel reactors are at least 2 ft in diameter [13] and cannot be scaled down as far as aqueous reactors can. 

Liquid metal fuel reactors would appear to be most u.seful for large central station power plants [6,11,17-20] where the integrated chemical processing, one of the attractive features of an LMFR system, would be important. 

Liquid metal fuel reactors are classified on the basis of their heat-transfer characteristics (Fig. 18-1) [21]. If heat is transferred within the core the reactor is said to be internally cooled. If heat is transported by the fuel to the primary heat exchanger external to the core, the reactor is externally cooled. The term "integral reactor" implies an externally cooled system, but one so compact that the reactor and primary heat exchangers can be placed in the same container. 

CiiERNicK, Small Liquid Metal Fueled Reactor Sistems, Nuclear Sci. and Eng. 1, 135-155 (1956). 

F. T. Miles and C. Williams, Liquid Metal Fuel Reactor, in Proceedings of the International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, Vol. 3. New York United Nations, 1956. (P/494, p. 125)... 

In a U-fueled liquid-metal system, the cross sections of the higher isotopes or uranium arc of considerable importance in determining equilibrium concentrations of these isotopes and the time required to approach their equilibrium. These equilibrium conditions require study because of solubility limitations in a liquid-metal fuel reactor. The chain starts with either or depending on whether a converter or breeder reactor... 

The Liquid Metal Fuel Reactor offers the opportunity for continuous removal of hssion products from the fluid fuel by chemical and physical processing. By this procedure the poisoning effect of the fission products may be kept to a low level, and thus make possible a good breeding ratio in this thermal reactor. In this chapter, the various chemical and physical processes for removing the fission products are discussed. 

R. W. Rebholz et al.. Chemical Reprocessing Studies for the Liquid Metal Fuel Reactor Experiment, USAEC Report UCN-42, Union Carbide Nuclear Co., June 28, 1957. 

J.YMEs J. Egan and R. H. Wi.swall, Jr., Applying Thermodynamics to Liquid-Metal-Fuel Reactor Technology, Nucleonics 15(7), 104-106 (1957). 

R. H. WiswALL, Jr., et al., Recent Advances in the Chemistry of Liquid Metal Fuel Reactors, paper prepared for the Second International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, Geneva, 1958. 

R. J. Teitel, An Internally Cooled Liquid Metal Fuel Reactor Design, in Proceedings of the First Nuclear Engineering and Science Congress, Vol. 1, Problems in Nuclear Engineering. Now York Pergamon Press, 1957. (pp. 292-301)... 

T. V. Sheehan and L. D. Stoughton, The Liquid Metal Fuel Reactor Closed-Cycle Gas Turbine Power Plant, Mech. Eng. 78, 699-702 (1956). 

C. Williams and F. T. Mile.s, Liquid-Metal-Fuel Reactor Systems for Power, in Chemical Engineering Progress Sgmposium Series, Vol. 50, No. 11. New York American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 1954. (p. 245)... 

C. J. Raseman et al.. Liquid. Metal Fuel Reactor In-pile Fuel Processing Loop Loop B) Construction, Operation, Experimental Results, USAEC Report BNL-403, Brookhaven National Laboratory, January 1957. 

LIQUID METAL FUEL REACTOR DESIGN STUDY ... 

Fig. 24-4. Two-region, externally cooled liquid metal fuel reactor.

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