{"title":"Neutronic assessment of stable salt reactor with reprocessed fuels","authors":"Natália Gonçalves , Clarysson A.M. Silva , María Lorduy-Alós , Sergio Gallardo , Claubia Pereira , Gumersindo Verdú","doi":"10.1016/j.anucene.2025.111383","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As global energy demand is projected to increase significantly, identifying sustainable and efficient energy solutions is imperative. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) utilizing Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) technology offer a viable approach, providing flexibility, efficiency, and reduced radioactive waste. This study examines the Stable Salt Reactor (SSR-W300), focusing on the neutronic behavior of various fuel compositions derived from PUREX (Plutonium–Uranium Redox Extraction) and UREX+ (Uranium Extraction Plus) reprocessing. The analysis utilizes the MCNP6 code to evaluate the impact of different reflector thicknesses on neutron parameters and the performance of fuels. It is determined that a 50 cm reflector thickness optimizes neutron economy while managing costs. Furthermore, comparisons of PUREX-derived fuel with UREX + fuels, which include minor actinides, reveal that UREX + fuels produce a flatter neutron flux profile and exhibit improved criticality over extended periods. The findings suggest that extending the refueling interval beyond the conventional 6 months to 8 months could enhance reactor performance. This study underscores the potential of Stable Salt Reactors (SSRs) to address growing energy demands through sustainable and efficient means.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8006,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Nuclear Energy","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 111383"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Annals of Nuclear Energy","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306454925002002","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"NUCLEAR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
As global energy demand is projected to increase significantly, identifying sustainable and efficient energy solutions is imperative. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) utilizing Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) technology offer a viable approach, providing flexibility, efficiency, and reduced radioactive waste. This study examines the Stable Salt Reactor (SSR-W300), focusing on the neutronic behavior of various fuel compositions derived from PUREX (Plutonium–Uranium Redox Extraction) and UREX+ (Uranium Extraction Plus) reprocessing. The analysis utilizes the MCNP6 code to evaluate the impact of different reflector thicknesses on neutron parameters and the performance of fuels. It is determined that a 50 cm reflector thickness optimizes neutron economy while managing costs. Furthermore, comparisons of PUREX-derived fuel with UREX + fuels, which include minor actinides, reveal that UREX + fuels produce a flatter neutron flux profile and exhibit improved criticality over extended periods. The findings suggest that extending the refueling interval beyond the conventional 6 months to 8 months could enhance reactor performance. This study underscores the potential of Stable Salt Reactors (SSRs) to address growing energy demands through sustainable and efficient means.
期刊介绍:
Annals of Nuclear Energy provides an international medium for the communication of original research, ideas and developments in all areas of the field of nuclear energy science and technology. Its scope embraces nuclear fuel reserves, fuel cycles and cost, materials, processing, system and component technology (fission only), design and optimization, direct conversion of nuclear energy sources, environmental control, reactor physics, heat transfer and fluid dynamics, structural analysis, fuel management, future developments, nuclear fuel and safety, nuclear aerosol, neutron physics, computer technology (both software and hardware), risk assessment, radioactive waste disposal and reactor thermal hydraulics. Papers submitted to Annals need to demonstrate a clear link to nuclear power generation/nuclear engineering. Papers which deal with pure nuclear physics, pure health physics, imaging, or attenuation and shielding properties of concretes and various geological materials are not within the scope of the journal. Also, papers that deal with policy or economics are not within the scope of the journal.