Russian scientists figured out how to secure a nuclear reactor: “dressed” in a lead mantle
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A new invention will increase the efficiency of a nuclear power plant
New Russian reactors will become more efficient and safer in the near future. Nuclear scientists figured out how to secure a new generation of nuclear power plants.
Our country is one of the leading countries in the study and application of technologies for obtaining energy from nuclear reactions. We build advanced nuclear power plants in Russia and abroad. At the same time, the installation of the so-called “3+” generations is currently in progress. Their coefficient of performance (COP), that is, the value showing their efficiency, is about 30%. However, researchers and engineers are already developing fourth-generation systems. Such stations should already achieve an efficiency of 50%. As with any business, with new benefits comes new challenges that need to be addressed. One of these problems is to ensure the safety of next generation nuclear power plants.
As MK was told at the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, scientists have figured out how to secure 4th generation stations. The development is carried out under the guidance of Professor Anatoly Shmelev at the Institute of Nuclear Physics and Technology (one of the departments of the university).
The bottom line is the use of a reflective layer of radiogenic lead (that is, lead with a predominant content of the lead-208 isotope) in a new type of reactor. In the course of a nuclear decay reaction in the reactor core, a large number of neutrons are emitted, which affect the decay rate. They must not fly out of the core in order for the reaction to continue, but also must not multiply there too quickly, because this could cause the reactor to get out of control, which could lead to another Chernobyl. Reflectors based on lead-208 will serve to solve these problems. They will keep neutrons inside the core with high efficiency, but the particles will be reflected with a delay, which will allow the system to remain stable. For comparison, such a delay in modern reactors is about 1000 times less than what will be in the “installations of the future”, that is, the 4th generation.
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