Conceptual design of a space nuclear fast reactor
This paper finds an improved combination of fuel, enrichment, and coolant for a fast reactor suitable for nuclear electric propulsion. The study simulates an infinite lattice considering two enrichments, with fuel options (ceramics and metal alloys), and with alkali metals as a coolant. Following th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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CTU Central Library
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Acta Polytechnica |
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| Online Access: | https://ojs.cvut.cz/ojs/index.php/ap/article/view/10136 |
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| _version_ | 1849311679064571904 |
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| author | Josef Sabol Jan Frýbort |
| author_facet | Josef Sabol Jan Frýbort |
| author_sort | Josef Sabol |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper finds an improved combination of fuel, enrichment, and coolant for a fast reactor suitable for nuclear electric propulsion. The study simulates an infinite lattice considering two enrichments, with fuel options (ceramics and metal alloys), and with alkali metals as a coolant. Following this, a simplified core model is developed to ensure long-term reactivity control and safe shutdown at a thermal power of 10 MW for 10 years, focusing on minimising size and mass. The findings indicate two viable fuel and coolant combinations, depending on temperature requirements. For temperatures up to 1 100 K, the U-10Zr and Na combination is preferable due to its smaller critical dimensions and reduced mass. For higher temperatures, up to 1 550 K, the UN and Li combination is suitable. The choice of operating temperature is critical, as heat rejection in space depends only on radiation, covered by the Stefan-Boltzmann law, where heat flux depends on the fourth power of the temperature. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-22ab90ebf4da4fc3b2511ab1b57a3ce8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1805-2363 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | CTU Central Library |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Polytechnica |
| spelling | doaj-art-22ab90ebf4da4fc3b2511ab1b57a3ce82025-08-20T03:53:18ZengCTU Central LibraryActa Polytechnica1805-23632025-05-0165210.14311/AP.2025.65.0252Conceptual design of a space nuclear fast reactorJosef Sabol0https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9637-1301Jan Frýbort1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1565-6662Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Department of Nuclear Reactors, V Holešovičkách 2, 180 00 Prague, Czech RepublicCzech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Department of Nuclear Reactors, V Holešovičkách 2, 180 00 Prague, Czech RepublicThis paper finds an improved combination of fuel, enrichment, and coolant for a fast reactor suitable for nuclear electric propulsion. The study simulates an infinite lattice considering two enrichments, with fuel options (ceramics and metal alloys), and with alkali metals as a coolant. Following this, a simplified core model is developed to ensure long-term reactivity control and safe shutdown at a thermal power of 10 MW for 10 years, focusing on minimising size and mass. The findings indicate two viable fuel and coolant combinations, depending on temperature requirements. For temperatures up to 1 100 K, the U-10Zr and Na combination is preferable due to its smaller critical dimensions and reduced mass. For higher temperatures, up to 1 550 K, the UN and Li combination is suitable. The choice of operating temperature is critical, as heat rejection in space depends only on radiation, covered by the Stefan-Boltzmann law, where heat flux depends on the fourth power of the temperature.https://ojs.cvut.cz/ojs/index.php/ap/article/view/10136nuclear electric propulsionspace nuclear fast reactorneutronic analysisSerpent 2 |
| spellingShingle | Josef Sabol Jan Frýbort Conceptual design of a space nuclear fast reactor Acta Polytechnica nuclear electric propulsion space nuclear fast reactor neutronic analysis Serpent 2 |
| title | Conceptual design of a space nuclear fast reactor |
| title_full | Conceptual design of a space nuclear fast reactor |
| title_fullStr | Conceptual design of a space nuclear fast reactor |
| title_full_unstemmed | Conceptual design of a space nuclear fast reactor |
| title_short | Conceptual design of a space nuclear fast reactor |
| title_sort | conceptual design of a space nuclear fast reactor |
| topic | nuclear electric propulsion space nuclear fast reactor neutronic analysis Serpent 2 |
| url | https://ojs.cvut.cz/ojs/index.php/ap/article/view/10136 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT josefsabol conceptualdesignofaspacenuclearfastreactor AT janfrybort conceptualdesignofaspacenuclearfastreactor |