Conceptual design of large plutonium nuclear reactor

According to Kyodo JBN-AsiaNet, the research team led by Professor Yoshiaki Oka of Waseda University in Japan succeeded in developing the concept of a nuclear reactor capable of producing one. Large amounts of plutonium are the world's first light water chiller.

The team devised a new fuel component, where carefully packed fuel rods to reduce the reactor's cooling water to a small amount of fuel to produce large quantities of plutonium. Using computer analysis, Professor Oka has succeeded in producing high-volume plutonium through mild water cooling.

Fast neutron reactors (FBRs) have produced more fission than consumed while still producing nuclear power. This is a "nuclear power dream." The main development direction of FBR is liquid metal reactors (LMFBR), but it is not commercially available because of the complexity of a plant due to its use. liquid sodium as a coolant.

Design of a large nuclear reactor

A nuclear fuel cycle and FBRs play an important role in reducing the amount of nuclear fuel consumed by light-water reactors (LWRs) and making efficient use of uranium sources. Nuclear power is being used in developing countries. The commercialization of used nuclear fuel is being recycled in developed countries, contributing to the promotion of nuclear security in the world.

According to this design, production - the complex system doubles the time - lasts 40 years. That means fission and the production of electricity by a group of FBRs will double in 40 years.

The demand for energy is equivalent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). GDP growth rate in seven developed countries in the OECD is 1.4% in the last 10 years. This means that GDP and energy demand will double in 50 years. Production activities will meet the energy demand ratio in developed countries.

The study will open the way to commercialize FBR and spin nuclear fuel in order to use peaceful nuclear energy on the basis of light water cooling technology.

The results of the study are published in the January issue of the Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology of the Japan Atomic Energy Association (AESJ).