Thermal-hydraulic and neutronic analyses of the submersion-subcritical, safe space (S4) reactor Original Research Article

The solid-core Submersion-Subcritical Safe Space (S4) reactor is cooled with He-28% Xe gas (molecular weight of 40 g/mole) and nominally generates 471 kWth for at least 7 years. To avoid single point failures in reactor cooling and energy conversion, the S4 reactor core is divided into three hydraulically independent, but neutronically and thermally coupled sectors. Each sector feeds a separate Closed Brayton Cycle (CBC) power conversion loop with separate heat rejection radiator panels. Detailed thermal-hydraulic analyses of the S4 reactor core are performed to ensure that the maximum fuel temperature during nominal operation stays below 1300 K. In addition, a neutronics analysis performed using MCNP 5 confirms that the S4 reactor satisfies the design reactivity requirements. These are at least $ 4 of cold clean excess reactivity, at least $ 2.25 of shutdown margin, and at least $ 1 subcritical in the worst-case of submersion and flooding, following a launch abort accident. Mass estimates of the S4 reactor design that meets both the thermal and the reactivity requirements are provided.