Design of 40 kW Dual-drum Controlled Liquid Molten Salt Reactor in Catalogue: Neutronics and Dual-drum Worth Analysis

Zhuang Nailiang; Song Yongnian; Yin Zhengda; Zhao Hangbin

doi:10.13832/j.jnpe.2025.S1.0207

Volume 46 Issue S1

Jul. 2025

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Zhuang Nailiang, Song Yongnian, Yin Zhengda, Zhao Hangbin. Design of 40 kW Dual-drum Controlled Liquid Molten Salt Reactor in Catalogue: Neutronics and Dual-drum Worth Analysis[J]. Nuclear Power Engineering, 2025, 46(S1): 207-212. doi: 10.13832/j.jnpe.2025.S1.0207

Citation:

Zhuang Nailiang, Song Yongnian, Yin Zhengda, Zhao Hangbin. Design of 40 kW Dual-drum Controlled Liquid Molten Salt Reactor in Catalogue: Neutronics and Dual-drum Worth Analysis[J]. Nuclear Power Engineering, 2025, 46(S1): 207-212. doi: 10.13832/j.jnpe.2025.S1.0207

Citation:

Zhuang Nailiang, Song Yongnian, Yin Zhengda, Zhao Hangbin. Design of 40 kW Dual-drum Controlled Liquid Molten Salt Reactor in Catalogue: Neutronics and Dual-drum Worth Analysis[J]. Nuclear Power Engineering, 2025, 46(S1): 207-212. doi: 10.13832/j.jnpe.2025.S1.0207

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Design of 40 kW Dual-drum Controlled Liquid Molten Salt Reactor in Catalogue: Neutronics and Dual-drum Worth Analysis

doi: 10.13832/j.jnpe.2025.S1.0207

1.
Department of Nuclear Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 211106, China
2.
College of Astronautics, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 211106, China

Received Date: 2025-02-19
Rev Recd Date: 2025-04-16
Publish Date: 2025-06-15

Abstract

Abstract

The heat source (power supply) of nuclear fission reactor is expected to be applied to deep space exploration, catalog scientific research station, interstellar navigation and other fields in the future due to its many advantages, such as no demand for solar orientation, small impact from space environment, large power range and large regulation range. Based on the fourth generation nuclear reactor technology—molten salt reactor, this paper proposes a conceptual design for a 40 kW space nuclear reactor utilizing liquid molten salt as nuclear fuel coupled with heat pipe cooling. A new reactivity control strategy combining control drum (for power regulation) and safety drum (for emergency shutdown) is proposed. The physical model of liquid molten salt space nuclear reactor is established, and the key physical characteristics of the core, such as neutron energy spectrum, neutron flux distribution, temperature effect and burnup depth, are obtained based on the Monte Carlo code MCNP and RMC analysis. The influence of control drum angle on reactivity and the reactivity control and core safety under partial failure of dual drums are further analyzed. The results show that the liquid molten salt space nuclear reactor designed in this paper can operate at full power for 10 years. The control drum arrangement can meet the core safety requirements under the failure of some control drums. This research can provide design reference for the control strategy of space liquid molten salt reactor and space reactor.
- Space nuclear reactor,
- Liquid molten salt nuclear reactor,
- Control drum,
- Safety drum

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References(18)

References

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