Research and development of Reduced-Moderation Water Reactor (RMWR)

Iwamura, Takamichi; Okubo, Tsutomu

An innovative water-cooled reactor concept named Reduced-Moderation Water Reactor (RMWR) is under development at JAERI, aiming at effective fuel utilization through plutonium (Pu) multiple recycling based on the well-experienced water-cooled reactor technology. The reactor is able to achieve a high conversion ratio more than 1.0 with MOX fuel, to establish the sustainable Pu recycling. Such a high conversion ratio can be attained by reducing the moderation of neutrons, i.e. reducing the water fraction in the core. Detailed research and development activities have been performed on the core design, in conjunction with the other related studies such as on the thermal hydraulics in the tight-lattice core, the reactor physics and the fuel irradiation behavior, including the experimental activities. Also, for the total feasibility demonstration of the RMWR technologies, a design investigation for Reduced-Moderation Demonstration Reactor (RMDR) of 180MWt is being performed.