The concept and neutronic characteristics of a multipurpose fast reactor (MPFR)

The paper describes a concept and its neutronic characteristics of a long-l ife multipurpose nuclear reactor with self-sustained liquid metallic fuel, which is proposed to meet the requirements for the energy production in the future. The application of the liquid plutonium-uranium metallic alloys as a nuclear fuel demonstrates high potential to reach excellent conversion c haracteristics and high burn-up values with relatively small reactivity swi ngs. Considerations about the capability of in-vessel separation of the mai n fission products to prolong the core lifetime without fuel reloading or s huffling are also discussed from the viewpoint of the influence on core bur n-up characteristics. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights: reserved.