What is a fast breeder reactor explain?

What is a fast breeder reactor explain?

A Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) is a nuclear reactor that uses fast neutron to generate more nuclear fuels than they consume while generating power, dramatically enhancing the efficiency of the use of resources. Nuclear fission by fast neutron causes the increase in neutrons generated.

What is a fast spectrum reactor?

A fast-neutron reactor (FNR) or fast-spectrum reactor or simply a fast reactor is a category of nuclear reactor in which the fission chain reaction is sustained by fast neutrons (carrying energies above 1 MeV or greater, on average), as opposed to thermal neutrons used in thermal-neutron reactors.

What is the main function of breeder reactor?

Breeder reactors are designed to generate nuclear fuel at the same time as producing energy for electricity production. This is possible because a small number of isotopes will capture neutrons produced in a reactor, starting a reaction that leads to a new, heavy fissile isotope.

What are fast breeder reactor examples?

Fast breeder reactor

• Gas-cooled fast reactor (GFR) cooled by helium.
• Sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) based on the existing liquid-metal FBR (LMFBR) and integral fast reactor designs.
• Lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) based on Soviet naval propulsion units.

Why is it called a breeder reactor?

Reactors can be designed to maximize plutonium production, and in some cases they actually produce more fuel than they consume. These reactors are called breeder reactors. Breeder reactors are possible because of the proportion of uranium isotopes that exist in nature.

Are fast breeder reactors safe?

But as the battle over a major fast-breeder reactor in the UK intensifies, skeptics warn that fast-breeders are neither safe nor cost-effective. Plutonium is the nuclear nightmare. And yet, some scientists say, we have the technology to burn plutonium in a new generation of “fast” reactors.

What is breeder reactor PPT?

Breeder Reactor  The reactors which are designed so that breeding will take place is known as breeder reactor.  Breeder reactors are capable of producing more fissile material than they consume during the fission chain reaction (by converting fertile U-238 to Pu-239, or Th-232 to U-233).

Why do fast breeder reactors explode?

(Unlike water moderated reactors, sodium-cooled fast breeders can explode due to an accidental nuclear criticality.) Fueling a fast breeder reactor with plutonium would require routine operation of a reprocessing plant that could handle large amounts of spent fuel with high plutonium concentrations.

How do fast reactors work?

Fast reactors are a versatile and flexible technology that promises to create or “breed” more fuel by converting nuclear “waste” into “fissile” material. “Fissile” material is nuclear fuel, usually uranium or plutonium that can sustain a fission chain.

How many MW is the prototype fast breeder reactor in India?

500 MW. The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) is a 500 MWe fast breeder nuclear reactor presently being constructed at the Madras Atomic Power Station in Kalpakkam, India. The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) is responsible for the design of this reactor.

What are the current research and development programmes for fast neutron reactors?

Several countries have research and development programmes for improved fast neutron reactors, and the IAEA’s INPRO programme involving 22 countries (see later section) has fast neutron reactors as a major emphasis, in connection with closed fuel cycle.

Which countries are leading the fast reactor race?

Russia is at the forefront of fast reactor development. It operates the only commercial-scale fast reactors and is building a 300 MWe demonstration lead-cooled fast reactor. It also put lead-cooled fast reactors into its seven Alfa -class submarines, which was not a conspicuous success but yielded 70 reactor-years of experience.*

What are genergeneration IV reactor designs?

Generation IV reactor designs are largely FNRs, and international collaboration on FNR designs is proceeding with high priority. About 20 fast neutron reactors (FNR) have already been operating, some since the 1950s, and some supplying electricity commercially.