English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Small modular reactors (SMRs) have garnered significant attention for their operational adaptability and ease of deployment. Thorium, with its well-documented advantages, shows promise as a viable fuel option for SMRs. However, the absence of intrinsic fissile components in thorium necessitates the exploration of different thorium-based fuel combinations. One such combination, (Th- 233 U)O 2  fuel, has limitations due to the presence of pure U-233. To overcome this challenge, a new fuel mixture, (Th- 233 U- 235 U)O 2 , was investigated for SMRs. This study examined the reactor physics characteristics of the (Th- 233 U- 235 U)O 2  fuel, including fuel burnup, neutron flux spectra, power distribution, the evolution of actinides, and reactivity coefficients. Results indicate that the (Th- 233 U- 235 U)O 2  fuel allows for a longer criticality period compared to UO 2  fuel, with up to a 14% improvement, while accumulating fewer plutonium and transuranic elements. Notably, it demonstrates significantly improved negative reactivity coefficients, particularly for moderator temperature, with an average improvement of 45% over (Th- 233 U)O 2  fuel. The conceptual (Th- 233 U- 235 U)O 2  fuel, therefore, exhibits promising neutronic properties, presenting possibilities for future studies. These findings contribute to the understanding and advancement of advanced fuel designs for SMRs.

Revolutionizing LWR SMR reactors: exploring the potential of (Th- 233 U- 235 U)O 2 fuel through a parametric study