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.

• Contents
• 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
  • CRBRP Reactor Vessel and Guard Vessel
  • The SRE and Hallam Reactor Vessels
  • CRBRP Refueling Approach
  • The SRE Refueling Approach
  • The SEFOR Refueling Approach
  • EVST Placement
  • The Resulting Reactor Vessel Design
• 7. Heat transport system
  • Parameters selection
• 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
  • Auxiliary Liquid Metal
  • SWRPS
  • RAPS
  • CAPS
  • IGRP System
  • Dowtherm J
  • Nitrogen
  • Liquid Radwaste
• 13. Summary and conclusions
• 14. A Path Forward
• Appendix 1 Fast Spectrum Reactor Neutronic Considerations
• Appendix 2 Reactor Core Design
  • A Fuel form
  • B Vented fuel
  • C Nuclear design and Core Layout
  • D Thermal-hydraulic design
  • E Natural circulation reactors
  • F Core design summary
• 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
  • Five prevailing conditions from the 1970s affecting LMFBR design
• 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