Performance Potential of (Th,U) Carbide and (Th,U) Nitride Fuel in 1200 MWe LMFBR'S

摘要

An evaluation of the performance potential of thorium-uranium carbide and nitride fuel in 1200 MW(e) homogeneous and heterogeneous LMFBR's has been completed. Comparisons were done with 9.40 mm outer diameter, 0.38 mm cladding fuel pins at a selected peak (3 sigma) linear power of 98.4 kW/m for all cores. Breeding ratios for the homogeneous (Th,U)C and (Th,U)N cores are 1.12 and 1.16, respectively. In the heterogeneous cores the breeding ratios are 0.08 to 0.09 greater. A comparative breeding ratio of 1.48 results for a sodium-bonded (U,Pu)C homogeneous LMFBR with similar design criteria. Compound inventory doubling times for the homogeneous and heterogeneous (Th,U)C cores are 82 and 53 years, respectively. Additional performance parameters have also been compared, including sodium void worths, specific inventories, fissile material gains, and equilibrium cycle reactivity losses. (ERA citation 03:033047)