3 ms·
A similar issue exists with metal coolant reactors, which conceptually would be very simple, and would use proven technology, fuel rods and cladding and have si
by yholio 6y ago
A similar issue exists with metal coolant reactors, which conceptually would be very simple, and would use proven technology, fuel rods and cladding and have similar or better operating characteristics to molten salt: low internal pressure, high temperature, inherent safety (fuel is physically separated from colant and never touches internal piping, pumps etc.)
It's very hard to formulate a metal coolant that has low melting point (pure lead is already too high), does not react with air or water (Sodium cooled reactors are notorious), has low cross-section (Hg fails), does not activate under the neutron flux to long lived chains (Bismuth and potassium in eutectic alloys) and does not dissolve the steel structure of the reactor (Tin).
If this problem could be fixed and have a safe, inert metal coolant with good thermal characteristics, fast breeders would become common place.
- BlueTemplar 6y agoAren't they already used in Russian submarines?
- Tuna-Fish 6y agoThey are, but this is because the Soviet designers thought that the improvement in power density were worth the serious disadvantage of having coolant that freezes well above room temperature.
- p_l 6y agoThey were used and the design was modified into small portable nuclear reactor, the SVBR-100, a 100MW(e) reactor that can be sold containerised and delivered on a rail flatcar. The problem is that a) the project owners have issues getting money to finish certification b) we don't mine enough bismuth. The second problem is pretty major issue, because as far as I know, we don't actually mine bismuth - all the bismuth available worldwide is from processing of tailings in other mines, and isn't under any kind of high production rate. Making just a dozen or so reactors for submarines was easy. Making mass-production line would actually mean a noticeable drain on world-wide supply of bismuth! Then there are political problems involving buying russian tech.. :(
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]