PHYS 11 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Breeder Reactor, Fast-Neutron Reactor, Very-High-Temperature Reactor
Document Summary
Reactors must absorb excess neutrons to maintain a constant number of n. Large cross section: how big is atom look to the passing neutron, good at absorbing neutrons without releasing energy. Pulling them out of core will increase the reactions. 60 new reactors under construction, mostly in china. Water in single phase, in high pressure forces them to stay as liquid. Needs new materials that do not crack or corrode under stress. Helium coolant at 950c, needs new materials for core and fuel casings. Nuclear fuel dissolved in fluoride solution that is coolant and fuel. Graphite moderator salt can be >1000c without boiling and good at carrying heat. Use sodium as water is a moderator. Pressurized he to cool and drive turbine directly at 850 c. 1 gw nuclear power consumes 1 cubic foot of uraniu, 1 gw 235u reactor produces about 1 ton of fission fragments per year. Fuel for different reactors thermal = slow reactor.
