ORNL-5388 - the Molten Salt Energy Technologies Web Site

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Fig. 4.0-2a. Nuclide Production Chain for 232Th.
239Np(n, y),240Np
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Fig. 4.0-2b. Nucl ie Production Chain for 23%.
Consideration of many of the above factors is inherent in the "mass balance" calcula-
tions presented in this chapter for the various reactors operating on alternate fuel cycles.
It is emphasized, however, that if a definite decision were made to employ a specific alternate
fuel cycle in a specific reactor, the next step would be to optimize the reactor design for
that particular cycle, as is discussed in Chapter 5. Optimization of each reactor for the
many fuels considered was beyond the scope of this study, however, and instead the design
used for each reactor was the design for that reactor's reference fuel, regardless of the
fuel cycle under consideration.
The reactors analyzed in the calculations are light-water thermal reactors; spectral-
shift-controlled thermal reactors; heavy-water thermal reactors; high-temperature gas-
cooled thermal reactors; liquid-metal fast breeder reactors; and fast breeder reactors of
advanced or alternate designs.