Prototype fast reactor

Figure 47 An outline flowsheet for the reprocessing of Prototype Fast Reactor fuel at Dounreay436...

The Dounreay site was established as the site of the UK Fast Breeder Nuclear programme in 1955 and became operational in 1958. It accommodated three reactors, the Materials Test Reactor, (DMTR, 1958-1969), the Dounreay Fast Reactor (DFR, 1959-1977) and the Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR, 1974-1994). With all reactor operations now finished and the reactors already de-fuelled the site is undergoing active decommissioning which is planned to be completed by 2032. The Dounreay site has been cited by UKAEA as being the second biggest nuclear decommissioning challenge in the UK with similar liabilities to those at Sellafield but with smaller waste volumes. 

From ref. 245 PFR = Prototype Fast Reactor at Dounreay, UK HLW= High Level Waste in which the bulk of the fission products (FP) are concentrated. 

Prototype fast reactors fuel reprocessing, 955 Prussian blue in cyclic water cleavage hydrogen and oxygen production, 525 electrode modification, 21 Pseudobactin, 678 animal infections, 679 Pseudocatalase... 

Steam generators (SGs) are generally regarded as the most critical of all sodium system components. Design, manufacture and experimental testing should be carried out with special case. It seems that all was done to install reliable SGs in prototype, demonstration and semicommercial LMFRs. Three prototype fast reactors (BN-350, Phenix and PFR) were commissioned in the 1960s and two of them (BN-350 and PFR) had unforeseen occurrences with SG. 

PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED DURING OPERATION OF THE PROTOTYPE FAST REACTOR, DOUNREAY, 1974-1994... 

E R Adam and C V G Gregory "A Brief History of the Operation of the Prototype Fast Reactor at Dovinreay" The Nuclear Engineer, 1994,35,112 - 117... 

C. Picker, A.S. Fraser, "Experience of cracking in austenitic stainless components of the UK prototype fast reactor", Int. J. Pres. Vessel Piping, 65,1996, 283-293. 

Russian experience gained on operation of experimental and prototype fast reactors (BR-10, BOR-60, BN-350 and BN-600) is rather good. Stable operation of the demonstration reactor... 

The purpose of this section is to compare the features of the RBMK reactor operated at Chernobyl with reactor types pertinent to the UK. It will be recollected that the RBMK covers a large number of reactors and the comparisons made are indeed with Chernobyl No. 4. The UK reactors covered are in three classes the commercial reactors now built and operated or in commission (Magnox and Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR)) the prototype Steam Generating Heavy Water Reactor (SGHWR) and Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR) that have comparable performance to commercial reactors and the proposed Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) or Sizewell B design which, it... 

The most efficient users of uranium, fast reactors have been under development for many years. Britain s Doumeay Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR) is designed to produce 250 MW(e) of electricity. France has commissioned a 1200 MW(e) commercial size reactor called Super Phenix. Russia has a GOO MW(e) station in use and prototypes are also under study in other countries. 

Two years ago an experiment was carried out by the UK Atomic Energy Authority on the Prototype Fast Reactor at Dounreay, to establish whether ultrasonic imaging could be carried out beneath the sodium. The success of this experiment has given confidence in the eventual use of ultrasonics for under sodium inspection. Under-soUium ultrasonics cannot as yet match inspection techniques that can be applied in a more amenable situation. However it seems likely that it can provide the equivalent of visual examinations. 

McKnight J A, Fothergill J R, Barrett L M, Parker J A, Willis P, Gould R F. "The use of ultrasonics for visualising components of the prototype fast reactor whilst immersed in sodium." ppl35-140. Ultrasonics International 83, Butterworth Scientific Ltd (July 1983). 

Japan. During the period from April 1996 to March 1997, the 30th duty cycle operation has been started on the experimental fast reactor Joyo. The cause investigation on sodium leak incident has been completed and safety examination is being performed on the prototype fast reactor Monju. 

A total of ten nuclear power reactors have been taken out of service including the experimental and prototype fast reactors (DFR and PFR) at Dounreay and are in various early stages of decommissioning. 

Whilst 1994 had a sad start, particularly for fast reactors with the closure of the Dounreay Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR) the period since has seen many successes for the UK nuclear industry. The Utilities efforts have been rewarded with significant improvements in the operation efficiency of existing reactors and the UK s first Pressurised Water Reactor at Sizewell B achieved criticality on 31 January 1995. Good progress has also been achieved with a number of fuel cycle facilities which will make a major contribution to nuclear fuel recycle, ie ... 

At Dounray the Material Testing Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant has almost finished all MTR fuel. The Prototype Fast Reactor Reprocessing Plant is being reprocessing the remaining oxide fuel from PFR. 

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