PROGRESS IN EXPERIMENTAL DEVELOPMENT OF MSR FUEL CYCLE TECHNOLOGY

摘要

The paper describes the existing and present activitiesin the area of R&D of fresh thorium – uranium liquid fuelprocessing, experimental studies of electrochemicalseparation applicable for on-line reprocessing and thetheoretical studies of the mutual link between the MSRreactor physics and chemical reprocessing technology.First part describes the preparation of UF4 and ThF4 bythe hydrofluorination of uranium and thorium dioxides andfinal preparation of liquid MSR fuel for the experimentalneutronics and irradiation tests done in the researchreactors LR-0 and LVR-15. Second part is devoted to theinvestigation and studies of the electrochemical separationprocesses in fluoride media suitable for utilization withinthe MSR on-line reprocessing technology. Final part isfocused on the evaluation of the technologies discussedabove and on the mutual link between the MSR physics andthe reprocessing technology to reach the optimizedremoval of neutronic poisons and maximal breeding of newfissile material. A conceptual design of the on-linereprocessing technology of the MSR – thorium breedersystem and the non-proliferation aspects are discussed aswell.