Liquid-salt channel-type reactor with dynamic loading and core superposition

Abstract

This paper discusses the drawbacks of a liquid-salt reactor with frequent fuel cleaning, i.e. removal of fission and protactinium products. It is shown that the breeding of fissible materials in liquid-salt reactors can be achieved without cleaning if a technique of dynamic loading with core superposition is used. The paper presents a diagram of the fuel circuit of such a reactor and the design of the fuel channel. Heavy water is used as a moderator, and heavy water with graphite are used as a reflector in this reactor. Infrequent fuel cleaning, i.e. partial removal of the fission products, makes it possible to considerably improve the fuel breeding while keeping additional costs at an acceptable level. The tritium produced in the liquid-salt reactor can be effectively used in a thermonuclear reactor (tokamak) to produce uranium-233 from thorium. This can help in the treatment of an ecologically hazardous substance (tritium) and enhance the breeding of fissible materials in the major fission reactor.