Research on safety characteristics of heat pipe reactor with semiconductor thermoelectric conversion system

Abstract

The heat pipe reactor exhibits notable characteristics of inherent safety and a compact configuration, rendering it a favored choice for space and ocean reactor designs. This study focuses on investigating the safety characteristics of the SAIRS-C space heat pipe reactor by employing a self-developed TAPIRS-D code under three selected typical accidents. The obtained results demonstrate that the heat pipe reactor exhibits inherent safety features, enabling it to sustain normal operation even in the event of partial heat pipe failure(2 out of 60 heat pipes fail) and partial heat sink loss(cooling rate decreasing from 100% to 10% in 10 s). The reactivity-insertion accident(0.358$ is introduced into the core) is found to exert the most significant influence on the heat pipe reactor. However, the crucial parameters of the reactor during the accident, such as fuel temperature, remain within the established safety limits. The outcomes of this research not only contribute to a comprehensive understanding of safety characteristics of heat pipe reactor, but also provide a crucial guidance for further design enhancements.