Conceptual design of a MW heat pipe reactor

• Published in: Nuclear engineering and technology Vol. 56; no. 3; pp. 1116 - 1123
• Main Authors: Wu, Yunqin, Zheng, Youqi, Chen, Qichang, Li, Jinming, Du, Xianan, Wang, Yongping, Tao, Yushan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.03.2024; Elsevier; 한국원자력학회
• Subjects: Core design; Heat pipe reactor; Neutronics analysis; Safety analysis; 원자력공학; Heat pipe reactor; Core design; Neutronics analysis; Safety analysis
• ISSN: 1738-5733; 2234-358X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.net.2024.02.009

–In recent years, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) have been vigorously developed, and with the continuous deepening of marine exploration, traditional energy can no longer meet the energy supply. Nuclear energy can achieve a huge and sustainable energy supply. The heat pipe reactor has no flow system and related auxiliary systems, and the supporting mechanical moving parts are greatly reduced, the noise is relatively small, and the system is simpler and more reliable. It is more favorable for the control of unmanned systems. The use of heat pipe reactors in unmanned underwater vehicles can meet the needs for highly compact, long-life, unmanned, highly reliable, ultra-quiet power supplies. In this paper, a heat pipe reactor scheme named UPR-S that can be applied to unmanned underwater vehicles is designed. The reactor core can provide 1 MW of thermal power, and it can operate at full power for 5 years. UPR-S has negative reactive feedback, it has inherent safety. The temperature and stress of the reactor are within the limits of the material, and the core safety can still be guaranteed when the two heat pipes are failed.