Breeder Reactor

A breeder reactorNuclear ReactorIn it's most simplest form, a nuclear reactor uses Uranium and other radioactive materials and the fission from uranium to create heat, and transfer that heat into steam to create power. Nuclear reactors are one of the biggest sources of energy, although not renewable, uranium has a very high energy density resulting in massive power transmissions. There are many different types of nuclear reactors, and this term serves as a broad hub/introduction for each type. After uranium is used in reacto has one goal: to create more Nuclear Fuel then it uses.

It is a type of Fast Neutron ReactorFast Neutron ReactorA Fast Neutron Reactor is a specific type of reactor that different from a Thermal Reactor-- it is not very common because unlike a thermal reactor that uses neutron to sustain the chain reaction, a FNR has no neutron moderation and less primary coolant due to an excess of fast neutrons * the capture to fission ratio is lower is fast reactors * high number of neutron produced per one fission * Neutron Flux has differences too The following image shows the neutron flux differences 400 Neutron F - and is the most common form of it (AFAIK). A breeder reactor has a nuclear conversion ratio that is greater than 1; meaning that it can create new fissile material faster than it consumes. Mechanically, many reactor designs can become breeder reactors; a PHWR ReactorPWR reactorThis reactor is a PWR reactor - a pressurized water reactor. This is a specific type of Nuclear Reactor--in that it is pressurized water. This is also the most common type of reactor used and produced. The fuel rods are pressurized with helium, and the fission gas products result in more stability; as fuel "burns" in the reactor, the density increases resulting in small voids developing. Helium pressurization is necessary as these voids can cause potential rupture of fuel rods. Furthermore, the have a ratio of .8, and many Light WaterLight WaterLight water, although appearing to have a fancy name, is literally just ordinary water....except it does contain a small amount of Heavy Water. The point of light water is that it can be used as a moderator --however it can only be used in certain situations, as it absorbs too many neutrons to be used with unenriched uranium (which is why light water is presumably used in Spent Fuel Pools) Light water is mainly used in BWR reactors & PWR reactors Uranium Enrichment is necessary for the usage of reactors have one of .6; changes in reactor design can increase the conversion ratio sufficiently.

Research was initially found to be useful into this type of reactor, but when more uranium reserves were found interest in this type of reactor declined.

Fast Breeder Reactor

A FBR uses fast neutrons to breed plutonium from fertile u-238, alternatively can also breed u-233 from throium. A FBR specifically uses a liquid metal fast breeder reactor design, cooled by liquid sodium (which took me a second to realise that yes, sodium is a metal in the form of elemental sodium).

Operating

There are currently 2 commercial breeder reactors; the BN-600 & BN-800 (guess how much MWE each produces).

Design

There are primarily 2 designs of FBRs

Loop FBR

In a loop FBR, primary coolant is circulated through heat exchangers outside the tank (inside biological shield due to radioactive sodium.)

Pool FBR

In a pool FBR, the primary heat exchagners and pumps are inside of the reactor tank itself.