Neutronics and thermal effects of graphite foams in the performance of nuclear energy systems

Procedures to produce light graphite foam ( 0.5 g/cm3) that exhibits heat conductivities similar to full density graphite have been developed at ORNL. The consequent substantial reduction in the thermal inertia might have a significant impact in standard designs of graphite system and it could make possible new concepts. We discuss two possible applications: (a) a modular, zero burnup reactivity swing, reactor and (b) the pebble bed accelerator-driven transmutator.