PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS ON THORIUM FUEL BASED SMALL MODULAR REACTOR (SMR)
Amila Amatullah (a*), Sidik Permana (b,c), Dwi Irwanto (b,c), Akfiny Hasdi Aimon (c), Cici Wulandari (b,c)

a) Nuclear Laboratory in Nuclear Science and Engineering, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Bandung Institute of Technology Ganesha No. 10 Bandung, Indonesia
*amilaamatullah[at]gmail.com
b) Graduate Program in Nuclear Science and Engineering, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Bandung Institute of Technology Ganesha No. 10 Bandung, Indonesia
c) Graduate Program in Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Bandung Institute of Technology Ganesha No. 10 Bandung, Indonesia

Abstract

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and micro-reactors show some advantages smaller size and power, accessibility to remote regions, and reduced land requirements. Thorium as an alternative fuel to enhance SMR performance and safety gives some interesting feature such more abundance of resource as well as its superior neutron characteristics and potential for higher fuel efficiency.
The study aims to compare uranium and thorium fuel cycles based on small modular integral PWR with thorium base utilization and its comparison with uranium and its combination with additional burnable poison. Initial neutron multiplication factor obtains 1.134 for thorium cycle, 1.129 for uranium fuel and 1.058, uranium-thorium cycles. In addition, Conversion ratio has been analyzed that thorium cycle have a higher CR (Conversion Ratio). with an average CR of 0.765, compared 0.692 for uranium cycles. Furthermore, thorium fuel cycle has significantly lower production of plutonium isotopes compared to other fuel cycles. The study show high power peaking factor (PPF) of 1.923 at the Beginning of Cycle (BOC), requiring further research for mitigation although its still less than 2. Analysis on performance comparisons at different power levels necessitate modifications in terms of geometry, operational duration, or fissile nuclide enrichment has been analyzed for optimization process. This research shows the potential of thorium-based fuel utilization in SMRs, by improving fuel efficiency and reactor safety.

Keywords: SMR- Conversion ratio- Neutron multiplication factor- Conversion Ratio- Thorium to Submit This Sample Abstract

Topic: Innovative Nuclear Energy Systems