Preliminary analysis of nuclear criticality safety of micro-reactor under high-speed impact

BackgroundMicro-reactors can be used as a lunar surface power or spacecraft power source for space exploration. Before launching the reactor, a safety analysis should be conducted to prevent a launch accident. Currently, the safety analysis of the radioactive isotope power system does not fully include the safety analysis of the reactor. The main critical safety analysis scenario is that the reactor falls and hits the concrete ground from a high altitude. The reactor may return to criticality after high-speed impact.PurposeThis study aims to investigate the nuclear safety characteristics of a space reactor subjected to dynamic shock under high-speed impact conditions.MethodsFirst of all, based on internal and surface unstructured grids, two simplified reactor models corresponding to two high-speed impact scenarios, i.e., pure fuel reactor vertical impact with ground, and cylinder reactor with a reflector layer and shielding layer impact the ground at a 30° angle were established. Then, the ABAQUS finite element method and unstructured mesh Monte Carlo method of particle transport were combined to predict the criticality properties of the pure fuel and cylindrical reactor during high-speed impact. Based on the surface and internal unstructured mesh Monte Carlo transport technology, the criticality safety analysis platform of micro-reactor under high speed impact was established.ResultsThe results show that the keff induced by the deformation may increase with time for the above mentioned two simplified reactors. The maximum increase in the keff of the pure fuel reactor can reach 1 000×10-5, whereas for the cylinder reactor, the keff is improved to a maximum of 200×10-5. Considering the non-uniform density effect, reactivities of -666×10-5 and -132×10-5 are introduced into the two reactors.ConclusionsThe critical safety characteristics of the reactor under different impact conditions should be evaluated to ensure sufficient safety margins under such accident conditions.