Inherent core safety performance of small sodium-cooled fast reactor with oxide fuel

Takano, Kazuya ; Oki, Shigeo ; Doda, Norihiro  ; Chikazawa, Yoshitaka  ; Maeda, Seiichiro 

The MOX fueled SMR-SFRs with lower linear heat rating of 100 W/cm and 50 W/cm, whereas the linear heat rating at rated power is around 400 W/cm in general, were designed to decrease the fuel temperature during its rated power state in order to pursue the inherent core safety for MOX fueled SMR-SFRs. The transient analyses for Anticipated Transient Without Scram (ATWS) events represented by an Unprotected Loss of Flow (ULOF) accident on the lower linear heat rating cores were performed considering their inherent feedback reactivity. Through the transient analysis, the inherent core safety performances for the lower linear heat rating cores were discussed based on the evaluated maximum coolant temperature and Cumulative Damage Fraction (CDF) as criteria to maintain the core and fuel integrity. The feasible design window for MOX fueled SMR-SFRs with the inherent core safety focusing on the linear heat rating was identified based on the transient analysis results.