Determining a core geometry for a helium-cooled fast reactor with natural uranium as a fuel cycle source.
Feriska Handayani Irka, Zaki Su^ud, Dwi Irwanto, Siti Nurul Khotimah, Hiroshi Sekimotod

Institut Teknologi Bandung
Universitas Andalas

Abstract

A core geometry for a helium-cooled fast reactor with natural uranium as the fuel cycle input was determined. This research aims to identify a geometric type with good neutronic economy and low neutron leakage so that a reactor using natural uranium as a fuel cycle source may operate in a critical condition throughout the burnup time. In this study, three different types of geometry are used. Geometry with a greater than one height-to-diameter (H/D) ratio (tall core), geometry with a H/D ratio equal to one (balance core), and geometry with a H/D ratio less than one (pancake core). The reactor has a power of 400 MWTh, a refueling duration of ten years, and a volume of 6.27 m2 with varied H/D ratios. The data was computed using SRAC (Standard Thermal Reactor Analysis Code System), a deterministic code with the JENDL 4.0 nuclear data library. In comparison to the other two geometries, the pancake core has the best neutron economy and lowest neutron leakage.

Keywords: helium-cooled fast reactor, pancake core, balance core, tall core, natural uranium

Topic: Nuclear Science and Engineering