HTGR Knowledge Base

Conference Article: Modular Helium Reactor Fuel Cycle Concepts and Sustainability

Abstract

General Atomics (GA) has over 35 years experience in prismatic block High- Temperature Gas Reactor (HTGR) technology design. During this period, the design has recently evolved into a Modular Helium Reactor (MHR) design, and several fuel cycle studies have been performed to demonstrate its versatility. This versatility is directly related to refractory TRISO coated-particle fuel that can contain any type of fuel. This paper summarizes GA’s fuel cycle studies individually, and compares each based upon its cycle sustainability, proliferation-resistance capabilities, and other performance data against Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) fuel cycle data. Fuel cycle studies will be categorized into five cycle options: commercial LEU-NU; commercial HEU-Th; commercial LEU-Th; weapons-grade plutonium consumption; and burning of LWR waste including plutonium and minor actinides in the MHR. Results show that all commercial MHR options, with the exception of HEU-Th, are more sustainable than a PWR fuel cycle, with LEU-NU being the most sustainable commercial option. In addition, all commercial MHR options outperform the PWR with regard to its proliferation-resistance, with thorium fuel cycles having the best proliferationresistance characteristics.

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Reference:

Proceedings of the Conference on High Temperature Reactors, Beijing, China, September, 22-24, 2004

International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)

HTR-2004, pp:1-8