NUCLEAR TECHNIQUES, Volume. 48, Issue 3, 030002(2025)

Design and prospects of small multifunctional pool research reactor

Xiaoliang CHEN*... Peng HAN, Jiyin ZHU and Jiachen ZHU |Show fewer author(s)
Author Affiliations
  • Department of Reactor Engineering and Technology, China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing 102413, China
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    Pool-type research reactors are the key reactor types among the current multi-purpose research reactors in the world. They have attracted much attention due to their outstanding performance in safety characteristics, versatility, operation and maintenance. Among pool-type reactors, the design of small research reactors with a thermal power of 1~10 MW is the most mature and has the widest application scenarios. This study systematically analyzes the evolutionary trends of small-scale pool-type reactors (1~10 MW thermal power), focusing on core design innovation and application diversification. Firstly, various core schemes of small pool-type research reactors worldwide carried out under RERTR (Reduced Enrichment Research and Test Reactor) de-enrichment projects and core redesign projects are comparatively analyzed alongside the fuel types and component structures that can be used in the core of future small pool research reactors, so does the current applications of small pool-type research reactors around the world. Then, the development status of small pool-type research reactors in terms of fuel type and core structure together with the technical indicators of various neutron application scenarios of research reactors are summarized. Finally, through horizontal comparative exploration and analysis, it is concluded that the future small pool-type research reactor will adopt a compact core design, high-density low-enriched uranium as fuel, based on a compact and movable small core, and with neutron source application facilities in large pools as the main development direction.

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    Xiaoliang CHEN, Peng HAN, Jiyin ZHU, Jiachen ZHU. Design and prospects of small multifunctional pool research reactor[J]. NUCLEAR TECHNIQUES, 2025, 48(3): 030002

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    Paper Information

    Category: INVITED REVIEW

    Received: Aug. 4, 2024

    Accepted: --

    Published Online: Apr. 15, 2025

    The Author Email: CHEN Xiaoliang (cxl1101@sina.com)

    DOI:10.11889/j.0253-3219.2025.hjs.48.240303

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