Idea for Aqueous Homogeneous Reactor

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the feasibility of a super-critical heavy water cooled and moderated two fluid aqueous homogeneous reactor utilizing nitrate fuel. Key materials mentioned include silicon carbide and alumina for cladding, with specific configurations for the blanket and seed core walls. The proposed nitrate base aims to mitigate corrosion issues associated with sulfate fuel solutions and enable the use of thorium in a nitrate solution format. However, the consensus indicates that this reactor design presents significant engineering challenges and lacks advantages over existing reactor designs.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of aqueous homogeneous reactor principles
  • Knowledge of nuclear fuel types, specifically nitrate and thorium solutions
  • Familiarity with reactor materials, including silicon carbide and alumina
  • Basic concepts of reactor economics and lifetime considerations
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the engineering challenges of aqueous homogeneous reactors
  • Explore the properties and applications of silicon carbide and alumina in nuclear reactors
  • Investigate the economic viability of thorium nitrate as a nuclear fuel
  • Examine existing reactor designs for comparative analysis
USEFUL FOR

Nuclear engineers, reactor designers, and researchers interested in advanced reactor concepts and fuel solutions.

Ahmed Shaker
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How would a super-critical heavy water cooled and moderated two fluid aqueous homogeneous reactor with nitrate fuel work?

Silicon carbide or alumina can be used as cladding for the internal seed core and blanket walls, with the silicon carbide on the blanket wall cladding stainless steel and the silicon carbide on the the seed walls covering Zircaloy.

The nitrate base should remove the corrosion issues of sulfate fuel solutions, and allow thorium as thorium nitrate solution to be held in the blanket instead of being suspended as oxide particles.

So how would this reactor fare in terms of economics and lifetime?

You don't need to bend over backwards for this, just curious.
 
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There are many problems with your idea. Mainly that it is the most nightmarish combination of engineering and nuclear conditions one could possibly imagine for any reactor design while offering no advantage over other designs.
 

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