Fast reactor system for underwater activities

Author

Otsubo, Akira ; Haga, Kazuo ; Kowata, Yasuki

Author_Institution

Japan Nucl. Cycle Dev. Inst., Tokyo, Japan

fYear

2000

fDate

2000

Firstpage

261

Lastpage

266

Abstract

A compact nuclear power unit consisting of a liquid metal fast reactor (LMFR) system and a closed Brayton cycle power generation system was studied. Main specifications of the power unit are: 215 kWt thermal power, 40 kWe electric power, primary coolant=NaK(Na; 0.22, K;0.78), secondary coolant of mixture gas of He and Xe, total weight of 26.6 ×103 kg, 5.2 m height, and 3500 m depth of setting location. The power unit is used as a power source for an unmanned sea-bottom base. The base with the power unit is used for measuring the temperature and velocity from the sea bottom to the surface, heat flux from the sea bottom, gravity, magnetic field, chemical composition of the sea water, etc. A more detail explanation regarding the application of the base for meteorological research is given. In the next century, there is a great possibility that several power units will be needed and set in the Pacific to observe the temperature rise caused by CO₂ increase and other meteorological phenomena

Keywords

meteorological instruments; nuclear power; power supplies to apparatus; 3500 m; 40 kW; 5.2 m; Brayton cycle power generation system; compact nuclear power unit; liquid metal fast reactor; meteorological research; unmanned sea-bottom base; Coolants; Helium; Inductors; Magnetic field measurement; Meteorology; Nuclear power generation; Ocean temperature; Power measurement; Sea measurements; Velocity measurement;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Underwater Technology, 2000. UT 00. Proceedings of the 2000 International Symposium on

Conference_Location

Tokyo

Print_ISBN

0-7803-6378-7

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/UT.2000.852554

Filename

852554