Experimental fast channel reactor operating in the traveling wave mode of nuclear fissions with a soft fast neutron spectrum

TL;DR

This paper introduces a prototype of a traveling wave fast reactor with a soft neutron spectrum, emphasizing material resilience and innovative fuel handling to sustain the fission wave.

Contribution

It presents a novel reactor design operating in the traveling wave mode with a softened fast neutron spectrum and advanced material solutions.

Findings

Neutron spectrum peaks between 20,000 and 50,000 eV.

Material impact reduced by over an order of magnitude.

Hydraulic fuel handling system minimizes neutron impact.

Abstract

This paper presents the principle scheme of the prototype of the fast single channel reactor operating in the traveling wave fission mode on the soft fast neutron spectrum. The reactor design has cylindrical symmetry. The problem of the radiation resistance construction materials in this experimental reactor is solved by the base proposals published by the authors of this article. The traveling wave fission mode is realised by the neutrons with the softened fast spectrum. The neutron spectrum peaks is in range 20000 - 50000 eV. That reduces the neutron impact on construction materials more than an order of magnitude. To further reducing neutron impact on construction materials in the reactor using elements of the hydravlic fuel handling system for nuclear fuel movement relative to the fuel channel walls. The nuclear fuel in which the fission wave travels is the cylindrical uranium dicarbide.