EDN: LGFSQR
Authors & Affiliations
Balovnev A.V.1, Zhirnov A.P.1, Moiseev A.V.1, Soldatov E.O.1, Fedorov I.A.1, Anikin A.S.2, Lizunov A.V.2, Semenov A.A.2, Tarasov V.R.2
1 N.A. Dollezhal Research and Development Institute of Power Engineering, Moscow, Russia
2 A.A. Bochvar High-Technology Research Institute of Inorganic Materials, Moscow, Russia
Balovnev A.V.1 – Leading Researcher, Cand. Sci. (Phys.-Math.).
Zhirnov A.P.1 – Head of Department.
Moiseev A.V.1 – Scientific Supervisor of the BREST-OD-300 Project, Cand. Sci. (Phys.-Math.).
Soldatov E.O.1 – Head of Group.
Fedorov I.A.1 – Engineer. Contacts: 1, bld. 3, pl. Akademika Dollezhalya, Moscow, Russia, 107140. Tel.: +7 (499) 763-04-57; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Anikin A.S.2 – Deputy Director of Department – Head of Department
Lizunov A.V.2 – Director of Research Department of Special Non-Nuclear Materials and Isotope Products, Cand. Sci. (Tech.)
Semenov A.A.2 – Chief Expert, Cand. Sci. (Chem.)
Tarasov V.R.2 – 2nd Category Engineer.
Abstract
The use of high-density nitride fuel allows for complete reproduction of nuclear fuel in the reactor core, but it leads to a detoration in the neutron balance due to the absorption of neutrons by the nitrogen-14 isotope. Natural nitrogen consists of two stable isotopes – 14N (~ 99,6 %) and 15N (~ 0,4 %). The isotope 15N differs from the main isotope in its low neutron absorption cross-section, and is therefore considered to be a promising material for the production of nitride fuel. Nitride fuel enriched in the 15N isotope is called isotopically modified. This work shows results of conducted study for the influence of mixed nitride uranium-plutonium fuel with an increased content of 15N isotope up to 90-99 % at. on the main neutron-physical characteristics of a fast reactor with lead coolant BR-1200. This paper shows the change in reactivity margin and breeding ratio caused by the increase in N-15 content to 99 at.% while maintaining other technological parameters Seven core configurations have been proposed in order to compensate for the effects caused by increased N-15 content. Compensation for these effects is achieved by changing the mass of the fuel load and the geometric parameters of the core and fuel assemblies. The use of isotopically modified nitride fuel allows the mass of fuel load to be reduced by up to 27%. The mass of 15N required to close the nuclear fuel cycle has been determined. It has been shown that reducing the requirements for nitrogen enrichment from 99 to 90 % does not lead to a significant change in the neutron-physical characteristics. The study of neutron-physical and thermal-physical characteristics was carried out using a system of codes developed in JNC NIKIET.
Keywords
lead coolant, fast reactor, BR-1200, neutron-physical characteristics, isotopically modified nitride fuel
Article Text (PDF, in Russian)
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UDC 621.039.51
Problems of Atomic Science and Technology. Series: Nuclear and Reactor Constants, 2026, no. 1, 1:6
