Neutronics and activation of the preliminary reaction chamber of HiPER reactor based in a SCLL blanket

Abstract

The HiPER reactor design is exploring different reaction chambers. In this study, we tackle the neutronics and activation studies of a preliminary reaction chamber based in the following technologies: unprotected dry wall for the First Wall, self-cooled lead lithium blanket, and independent low activation steel Vacuum Vessel. The most critical free parameter in this stage is the blanket thickness, as a function of the 6Li enrichment. After a parametric study, we select for study both a “thin” and “thick” blanket, with “high” and “low” 6Li enrichment respectively, to reach a TBR=1.1. To help to make a choice, we compute, for both blanket options, in addition to the TBR, the energy amplification factor, the tritium partial pressure, the 203Hg and 210Po total activity in the LiPb loop, and the Vacuum Vessel thickness required to guarantee the reweldability during its lifetime. The thin blanket shows a superior performance in the safety related issues and structural viability, but it operates at higher 6Li enrichment. It is selected for further improvements. The Vacuum Vessel shows to be unviable in both cases, with the thickness varying between 39 and 52cm. Further chamber modifications, such as the introduction of a neutron reflector, are required to exploit the benefits of the thin blanket with a reasonable Vacuum Vessel.