Molten fuel nuclear reactor with neutron reflecting coolant
摘要
說明書
A plot line 204 shows reactivity over time for a fast MSR with a static graphite moderator configuration, wherein the moderating neutron reflector assembly tends to provision the reactor core with thermalized neutrons. On the plot line 204, reactivity begins around time T0 at a relatively higher level than plot line 202 due in part to thermalization caused by the graphite moderator increasing the probability of fission. Plot line 204 may drop significantly near time T0 due to thermal spectrum multiplication adjacent to the graphite reflector. Reactivity may then gradually reduce over time in a generally linear manner as the thermal neutrons burn fissile fuel in the reactor core. The plot line 204 is similar to plot line 202 in the respect that neither plot line reaches or maintains a maximized burn rate achievable within the reactor core. The plot line 204 does not reach the reactor's maximum burn rate because there are not enough fast neutrons to maintain a breeding rate high enough to support the burn rate as time progresses though the period T0-T5. In the plot lines 202 and 204, the burn rate is not optimized over the time period T0-T5. Instead, each plot has a period of relatively higher burn rate and a period of relatively lower burn rate over the course of the graph.
