RRFM 2009 Transactions - European Nuclear Society

Owing to the important and satisfactory feedback experience built upon oxide fuels, MOX is
the reference fuel for the SFR, at least for the start-up of the prototype (ASTRID). The
objectives followed for the 4th generation SFR for safety (for example sodium void worth
reduction and limited core reactivity excess) and cycle performances (self-sustainable core
with a near zero breeding gain, reasonable in-core Pu inventory, MA transmutation) are
achievable with an oxide fuel in large power cores (3600 MWt) while implementing adequate
design features. Nevertheless, recent calculations show that the use of a dense and cold
ceramic fuel might even improve the core performances. Carbide and nitride are candidate
fuels to be investigated for SFRs of 4 th generation. Based on recent experimental results
carbide is preferred to nitride by the CEA.
For the GFR and the LFR, dense fuels are required to achieve self-generation because of
the higher fraction of coolant in the core. Carbide and nitride are currently the reference fuels
for the GFR and LFR, respectively.
Experimental reactors are needed for further assessment of the in-pile behavior of fuels with
representative materials and realistic conditions (burn-up, MA content, neutron flux…). An
optimal use of existing irradiation reactors (Phenix, Joyo, Monju, BOR-60, BN-600) is
necessary, until new reactors, under construction (JHR, CEFR, PFBR) or planned
(ALLEGRO, ASTRID) can be put in operation. International collaboration is essential to
assure the continuous availability of irradiation infrastructures.
7. References
[1] F. Carré et al, Outlook To France’s R&D Strategy On Future Nuclear Systems (From
Gen II to Gen IV reactors and fuel cycle), RRFM IGORR 2007, Lyon, France, March
11-14, 2007.
[2] F. Carré, C. Renault et al, Les réacteurs rapides de 4 ème generation et leurs
combustibles, RGN, 2006.
[3] J.Y Malo et al, Gas Cooled Fast Reactor 2400 MWth, end of the preliminary viability
phase, Proceedings of ICAPP 2008, Anaheim, CA USA, June 8-12, 2008.
[4] P. Richard et al, GFR Fuel and Core Pre-Conceptual Design Studies, International
Conference on the Physics of Reactors “Nuclear Power: A Sustainable Resource”,
PHYSOR 2008, Interlaken, Switzerland, September 14-19, 2008
[5] J. Rouault et al, Survey of candidate fuels for Gen IV Sodium Fast Reactors with a
closed fuel cycle, Presentation at ICAPP 2007, Nice, France, May 13-18, 2007.
[6] D. Petti, D. Crawford and N. Chauvin, Fuels for Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems,
MRS Bulletin Vol 34, January 2009.
[7] F. Varaine et al, Review on transmutation studies at CEA: scientific feasibility
according neutronic spectrum, Proceedings of GLOBAL 2005, Tsukuba, Japan,
October 9-13, 2005.
[8] J. Guidez, Status of Phenix Operation and of Sodium Fast Reactors in the World,
Proceedings of ICAPP 2007, Nice, France, May 13-18, 2007.
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