Open AccessCONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF AN ORGANIC-COOLED SMALL NUCLEAR REACTOR TO SUPPORT ENERGY DEMANDS IN REMOTE LOCATIONS IN NORTHERN CANADA
Author(s) -
Colin Shan,
Paul K. Chan,
Hugues W. Bonin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
cnl nuclear review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2369-6931
pISSN - 2369-6923
DOI - 10.12943/cnr.2019.00002
Subject(s) - nuclear engineering , beryllium , coolant , conceptual design , environmental science , criticality , nuclear power , nuclear reactor , neutron transport , uranium , enriched uranium , waste management , materials science , engineering , mechanical engineering , nuclear physics , neutron , physics , metallurgy
Small nuclear reactors can offer safe, reliable, and long-lasting district heating and electrical power generation to remote locations in northern Canada. A conceptual design of an organic-cooled and moderated reactor based upon the SLOWPOKE-2 research reactor is proposed for potential employment in northern Canada. For viability, this design extends the SLOWPOKE-2’s power to 1 MW th . An added pump circulates the organic coolant, a partially hydrogenated terphenyl mixture known as HB-40, to facilitate greater heat transfer. The reactor incorporates the same low-enriched uranium dioxide fuel as the SLOWPOKE-2. Reactor control is accomplished through hafnium absorber rods and a movable beryllium reflector. The reactor neutronics are simulated using the deterministic code, WIMS-AECL, and the probabilistic code, MCNP 6. The service life of fuel in this reactor operating at full power exceeds 11 years. The conceptual design has demonstrated negative reactivity coefficients indicating strong potential for inherent safety.