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A Path Forward for the LMFBR

In the mid to later part of the 20th Century, the Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor was envisioned by many as the technology that could supply all the nation’s energy needs for the foreseeable future – thousands of years if necessary. The Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor failed in the United States in 1983 because it was considered too expensive. This perception was based on the preliminary design of a demonstration plant, the Clinch River Breeder Reactor Plant that was then in the latter stage of construction permit licensing. The purpose of this monograph is to describe how that happened and to propose a different method that could lead to a more favorable outcome. The design and institutional approach in this paper is one of many that could be devised. It is not intended to be a blueprint. It is only intended to show that it is possible to capitalize on the inherent features of liquid metal and breeder reactor technology in such a way that economic outcomes are achievable. There are undoubtedly many other such approaches.

• Summary
• 1. Prelude
• 2. Source of the idea of the breeder reactor and a brief history
• 3. The unique properties of sodium cooled reactors
• 4. Typical design features of LMFBRs
• 5. Cost reduction approach
• 6. Reactor Vessel, Internals, and Refueling
• 7. Heat transport system
• 8. Decay heat removal system
• 9. Containment
• 10. Reactor control and shutdown systems
• 11. Eliminating 1E electric power
• 12. The Devil is in the Details: ALM, SWRPS, IGRP, Rad. Waste and others
• 13. Summary and conclusions
• 14. A Path Forward
• Appendix 1 Fast Spectrum Reactor Neutronic Considerations
• Appendix 2 Reactor Core and Head Port Design
• Appendix 3 Actinide Burning
• Appendix 4 Primary Steam Generators
• Appendix 5 Pool vs. Loop Controversy
• Appendix 6 The hot leg vs. cold leg primary pump controversy
• Appendix 7 LMFBR development in decline
• Appendix 8 Uranium resource picture
• Appendix 9 Opportunities for further analyses or research & development
• Appendix 10 Cost Reduction Measures
• Appendix 11 List of Acronyms Used

figure source: Graevemore

http://ans.org/news/article-4154/revive-the-lmfbr/

To contact author, email fastbreederrx@gmail.com

The objective of this site is to stimulate action that advances the LMFBR. The site puts forward a design and institutional approach that is straightforward and promising enough to be a basis for further action. All comments are welcomed. Constructive criticism is welcomed. The author will modify the site to correct areas that have been identified and substantiated as being erroneous or which could be improved upon and will give attribution to the originator (with the originator’s permission) of any such comments. Any analyses that are performed to support or propose alternatives to the core design or any other feature of the “design approach” would be most welcomed.

Clark Gibbs is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy who served on nuclear submarines, then obtained a Ph.D. in nuclear science and engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He spent his career in managerial positions divided between electric utility companies, EPRI, industry, and the Department of Energy, which included 16 years of assignments in LMFBR development.