Design Study of Very Small Modular Gas Cooled Fast Reactors
Zaki Su^ud(1), Feriska H. Irka(1), Fitria Miftasani(1), Nina Widiawati(1),Hellen Raflis(1), Indah Rosyidah M.(1), Nur Asiah Aprianti (1), Zuhair(2)

1 Dept of Physics, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB)
2 Center for Reactor Technology and Safety (PTRKN) BATAN

Abstract

Very small modular reactors have become important topic in advanced next generation Nuclear Power Plant development. In this study very small modular nuclear power plants (NPPs) with 1-20 MWe power level have been developed conceptually using SRAC, FI-ITB CH1, and MCNP codes. order to obtain compact core, relatively high plutonium content are used in the nuclear reactor core designs. up to 20% of heavy metals. In addition, Np-237 have been used to reduce excess reactivity during 10 - 30 years operation times without refueling or fuel shuffling. The reactor cores are designed to have relatively small radius in order to anticipate core depressurized accident. In case of core depressurized accident the increased temperature will inherently shut down the reactor and the decay heat will be removed through natural circulation of air through outer part of the core and at the central hole. The excess reactivity has been minimized to be less that 3% dk/k. The core are divided into three core regions with different plutonium content to reduce excess reactivity during burn-up and to extend operation time without refueling or fuel shuffling. Preliminary safety alanysis also presented in this study especially estimation of macimum temperature during core depressurized accident.

Keywords: GCFR, very small reactor, modular, long life operation, core depressurized accident

Topic: Nuclear Science and Engineering