DOI: 10.1615/ICHMT.1988.20thAHT
ISBN Print: 978-0-89116-877-5
ISSN: 0899-5311
ON FAST SODIUM COOLED BREEDER RELATED THERMOPHYSICAL INVESTIGATIONS. International Seminar 1971
ABSTRAKT
The concept of economical supply has been considerably revised during the last ten years as a result of prevailing energy trends. Thus the fact that fast uranium-plutonium breeder reactors have a natural uranium efficiency of 60% as opposed to the 1-2% for light water reactors has acquired particular significance. Despite the currently high unit energy cost, fast sodium cooled breeder reactors are indicated for all developed utility systems. Their only forseeable competition are future hybrid thermonuclear reactors.
The problems plagueing nuclear energy during the last decade, the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl accidents, have created a climate adverse to the development of nuclear energy. If we refrain from speculation, the world has but one alternative, a global energy systems of fast sodium cooled breeder reactors and light water epithermal reactors. Such an energy system incorporating reprocessing complexes for spent fuel and plutonium - containing spent fuel, high-activity waste storage and fuel bundle transport has to be first and foremost safe against possible uncontrolled nuclear explosions and in respect to mechanical and thermal accidents. Total radiation safety must also be ensured.