Sodium-cooled fast reactor activities

Some Fission Product Activities in the Fuel of a Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor ... 

In conclusion, although the CEA has now decided to focus its R D on gas cooled reactor concepts, with the prospect of perfecting a gas cooled fast reactor in the long term (4th generation), it nevertheless shall preserve activities and expertise it has acquired on sodium cooled fast reactors over the years. CEA would like to pursue further exchanges with other countries who are also engaged in liquid metal fast reactor research. 

Recognizing the importance of sodium cooled fast reactor knowledge preservation, there is the need to pursue an internationally coordinated activity aiming at the analysis of operational experience with fast reactor equipment and systems, as well as at the generalization of the lessons learned. The objectives of this activity are to ... 

During recent years (1997-2003), activities for the MBRU-12 were also stimulated by the exchange of scientific and technical information with companies in the Russian Federation and abroad currently developing concepts of sodium cooled fast reactors. Among them, mentioned should be the Ministry of Atomic Industry of Kazakhstan. 

Considerable radioactivity is induced in the sodium in the primary cooling circuit of a liquid metal cooled fast breeder reactor (LMFBR) Na(n,y) Na, Na(n,p) Ne, etc. Na has a IS h r, and emits energetic y s. The primary cooling loop must therefore be well shielded. Its activity is a nuisance only in case of repair work in the primary system, requiring considerable waiting time before the loop can be approached. The sodium dissolves many of the corrosion and fission products eventually released. To remove these the primary loop is provided with cold trap purification systems. 

Present activities in the fast reactor technology area in Russian Federation include design of the BOR-60 experimental reactor modification, including its replacement by the sodium cooled BOR-60M plant. 

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