Very High Efficiency Reactor (VHER) Concepts for Electrical Power Generation and Hydrogen Production

PARMA JR.,EDWARD J. ; PICKARD,PAUL S. ; SUO-ANTTILA,AHTI JORMA

Sandia National Laboratories

关键词: Criticality;    Power Generation;    08 Hydrogen;    Geometry;    Power Reactors;   

DOI  :  10.2172/820885
RP-ID  :  SAND2003-1755
RP-ID  :  AC04-94AL85000
RP-ID  :  820885

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

The goal of the Very High Efficiency Reactor study was to develop and analyze concepts for the next generation of nuclear power reactors. The next generation power reactor should be cost effective compared to current power generation plant, passively safe, and proliferation-resistant. High-temperature reactor systems allow higher electrical generating efficiencies and high-temperature process heat applications, such as thermo-chemical hydrogen production. The study focused on three concepts; one using molten salt coolant with a prismatic fuel-element geometry, the other two using high-pressure helium coolant with a prismatic fuel-element geometry and a fuel-pebble element design. Peak operating temperatures, passive-safety, decay heat removal, criticality, burnup, reactivity coefficients, and material issues were analyzed to determine the technical feasibility of each concept.