Research on the Application of SARAX in the Design of Marine Heat Pipe Reactor

Li Fanchen; Zheng Youqi; Wang Xiayu; Wang Shidi

doi:10.13832/j.jnpe.2025.S1.0058

Volume 46 Issue S1

Jul. 2025

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Li Fanchen, Zheng Youqi, Wang Xiayu, Wang Shidi. Research on the Application of SARAX in the Design of Marine Heat Pipe Reactor[J]. Nuclear Power Engineering, 2025, 46(S1): 58-65. doi: 10.13832/j.jnpe.2025.S1.0058

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Li Fanchen, Zheng Youqi, Wang Xiayu, Wang Shidi. Research on the Application of SARAX in the Design of Marine Heat Pipe Reactor[J]. Nuclear Power Engineering, 2025, 46(S1): 58-65. doi: 10.13832/j.jnpe.2025.S1.0058

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Research on the Application of SARAX in the Design of Marine Heat Pipe Reactor

doi: 10.13832/j.jnpe.2025.S1.0058

Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049, China

Received Date: 2024-08-30
Rev Recd Date: 2025-03-10
Publish Date: 2025-07-09

Abstract

Abstract

With the gradual maturation of heat pipe reactor technology, its potential application in unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) is constantly developing. In response to the stringent requirements of underwater platforms for compactness, extended operational lifetime, and high nuclear power system reliability, this paper proposes a megawatt-class heat pipe reactor specifically designed for nuclear-powered UUV, with a design lifetime of 10 years. A comprehensive neutronic analysis was conducted using SARAX, covering critical parameters such as fuel burnup trend, power distribution, reactivity coefficients, and control rod worth. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed reactor exhibits favorable neutronic characteristics along with a well-balanced power distribution. Over its 10-year lifetime, the reactor achieves an average fuel burnup of 9.455 GW·d/t(U); the radial relative power peak of the core occurs in the outermost fuel assembly; the reactivity compensation of shim rods during the lifetime is less than 2000pcm (pcm=10⁻⁵); the worth of a single control rod does not exceed 1 β. These outcomes confirm that the reactor fulfills the design criteria of compactness, lightweight construction, and safe reactivity control. The proposed reactor is expected to provide a stable and continuous power supply for UUVs, thereby significantly enhancing their underwater endurance and mission execution capabilities.
- Submersible,
- Heat pipe reactor,
- Neutronics

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References(23)

References

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