Startseite Optimization of 200 MWt HTGR with ThUN-based fuel and zirconium carbide TRISO layer
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Optimization of 200 MWt HTGR with ThUN-based fuel and zirconium carbide TRISO layer

  • Fitria Miftasani , Nina Widiawati ORCID logo EMAIL logo , Nuri Trianti , Topan Setiadipura , Zuhair Zuhair , Dwi Irwanto , Sidik Permana und Zaki Su’ud
Veröffentlicht/Copyright: 9. Mai 2023
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Abstract

TRISO fuel particle using ZrC has better strength and resistance to high temperatures than SiC. Previous studies show that the ZrC layer, as a substitution of SiC within the TRISO layer of coated fuel particles, has an insignificant difference in the performance of the neutronic aspect. Further neutronic studies are required to obtain the best combination of thorium-based fuel with ZrC coating for HTGR. This study analyzed the neutronic performance of three types of thorium-based fuels, oxide, carbide, and nitride, for HTGR. The reactor design refers to the High-Temperature Test Reactor with some axial and radial fuel configuration adjustments. This reactor is designed to operate at 200 MWt and has been modified to use a ZrC layer as a substitute for the SiC layer on the coated fuel particles. The neutronic study is carried out using SRAC2006 code with JENDL 4.0 nuclear data library. Neutronic parameters analyzed include multiplication factor, power peaking factor, and neutron spectrum. Neutronic analysis results show that thorium nitride fuel’s multiplication factor (keff) is better than other compared fuel types with k-eff 1.050, higher than thorium carbide, 1.004. At the same time, thorium oxide has been sub-critical. The power-peaking value of all materials is close to the ideal peaking value that is one. Other neutronic aspects, such as the neutron spectrum for three compared fuel types, have a similar trend.


Corresponding author: Nina Widiawati, Research Center for Nuclear Reactor Technology (PRTRN), BRIN, South Tangerang, Indonesia, E-mail:

  1. Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

  2. Research funding: The research is funded by the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency.

  3. Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.

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Received: 2023-01-16
Published Online: 2023-05-09
Published in Print: 2023-08-28

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Heruntergeladen am 28.9.2025 von https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/kern-2023-0003/html
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