ANALYSIS OF AUTONOMOUS LOAD FOLLOWING (ALF) IN ADVANCED FAST REACTORS
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Authors
Kinnamon, Brad W.
Subjects
nuclear
reactor
lead
sodium
lead bismuth
fast spectrum
autonomous load following
reactor
lead
sodium
lead bismuth
fast spectrum
autonomous load following
Advisors
Smith, Craig F.
Date of Issue
2018-12
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The autonomous load following (ALF) properties of fast-spectrum nuclear reactors offer great potential for increased electric grid stability, reduction in control rod mechanism wear, and less operator action for small power transients experienced on a daily basis. These features can result in design simplification and enhanced safety of such reactor systems. Thermal-hydraulic transients result in reactivity feedback from the coolant to curb power transients and return the reactor to a stable, critical condition. The speed of the reactivity feedback and the resulting limits on how large a transient can be controlled through autonomous load following are based to a great extent on the intrinsic properties of the coolant and their effects on the associated reactor kinetics. Lead, lead bismuth eutectic (LBE), and sodium are coolants that have properties amenable to ALF, and these primary coolant types are among the promising options for advanced fast reactors under the Generation IV program. This paper reviews the relevant properties of each coolant type and presents the heat-transfer modeling results of analyses using evaluated nuclear data files (ENDF) data and MATLAB to simulate their respective reactivity responses for a simplified fast reactor design. The results provide insight into comparison of coolant types based on reactivity feedback and autonomous load following capability in future fast reactor designs.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Physics (PH)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
DTRA
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.