Advanced MOX Core Design Study of Sodium-Cooled Reactors in Current Feasibility Study on Commercialized Fast Reactor Cycle Systems in Japan

Sodium-cooled mixed-oxide core design studies are performed with a target burnup of 150 GWd/t and possible measures against the recriticality issues in core disruptive accidents. Four types of core are compared from the viewpoints of core performance and reliability. Results show that all the types of core satisfy the target and that a homogeneous core with an axial blanket partial elimination subassembly is the superior concept, although experimental demonstration is required of molten fuel motion for mitigation of recriticality following fuel melting and loss of fuel pin integrity.