Reactor, breeder stability

The fuels for fast breeder reactors include alloys such as U-Pu-Zr and the ceramic materials UO2-PUO2, UC-PuC, and UN-PuN, but the mixed oxides, UO2-PUO2, are the choice for prototype fast breeder fuel elements because of their high melting temperature, compatibility with cladding and coolants, and relatively good irradiation stability and fission product retention. The disadvantages are the relatively low metal density, the... 

Oxide fuels have demonstrated very satisfactory high-temperature, dimensional, and radiation stability and chemical compatibility with cladding metals and coolant in light-water reactor service. Under the much more severe conditions in a fast reactor, however, even inert UO2 begins to respond to its environment in a manner that is often detrimental to fuel performance. Uranium dioxide is almost exclusively used in light-water-moderated reactors (LWR). Mixed oxides of uranium and plutonium are used in liquid-metal fast breeder reactors (LMFBR). 

Recent findings on nuclear reactor stability are discussed and the value of computing machines in theoretical studies is noted. A commentary on current concepts in reactors is presented the flux trap reactor, boiMng reactors, gas-cooUng, and breeders using beryllium or for possible improvement of neutron economy. 

Reactor oscillator method. The real power of this general method of analysis, however, stems from the fact that it may be inverted in order to obtain the quantity H(joi) experimentally, and thus in principle to determine the function K t). The method was first suggested in 1954 by Hurwitz and Brooks as a method for investigating the stability of the first Experimental Breeder Reactor. If we solve equation (12) for H(s) we find ... 

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