Research Activities on LWHCRs at EIR: Present Status and Future Development

摘要

An important measure which leads to improved fuel utilization in thermal reactors is to increase the conversion ratio. One method that has been suggested is the Light Water High Converter Reactor (LWHCR), involving the use of U/Pu-fueled tight-pitch lattices in standard PWRs. The various LWHCR studies in USA and Europe have aimed at achieving high conversion ratios while effectively retaining as much of existing PWR technology as possible. Whereas the general conclusions of the studies made to date have been positive in this respect, there has been identification of a number of key problems where research and development efforts need to be concentrated. The Swiss Federal Institute of Reactor Research (EIR) started early in 1980 with a program of reactor physics experiments on LWHCR lattices in its zero-energy reactor facility PROTEUS at Wuerenlingen. Parallel to the experimental program a technical feasibility study on the potential of LWHCRs was carried out at EIR, in which a range of LWHCR designs with different fuel-to-moderator ratios was considered. A second phase of LWCHR physics experiments in PROTEUS has been under planning for being carried out during 1985-89, and design calculations and construction work have been started to enable reflooding experiments to be performed in the NEPTUN facility using a 37-rod tight-lattice geometry bundle. (Atomindex citation 16:064947)