HCCR breeding blankets optimization by changing neutronic constrictions

Abstract

The neutronic analysis of Helium Cooled Ceramic Reflector (HCCR) breeding blankets has been performed using the 3D Monte Carlo code MCNPX and ENDF nuclear data library. This study aims to reduce 6Li percentage in the breeder zones as much as possible ensuring tritium self-sufficiency. This work is devoted to investigating the effect of 6Li percentage on the HCCR breeding blanket's neutronic parameters, such as neutron flux and spectrum, Tritium Breeding Ratio (TBR), nuclear power density, and energy multiplication factor. In the ceramic breeders at the saturated thickness, increasing the enrichment of 6Li reduces its share in the tritium production. Therefore, ceramic breeders typically use lower enriched Li from 30% to 60%. The investigation of neutronic analysis in the suggested geometry shows that using 60% 6Li in Li2TiO3 can yield acceptable TBR and energy deposition results, which would be economically feasible.

Keywords

• DEMOnstration tokamak
• HCCR breeding blanket
• Neutronic analysis
• TBR
• Energy deposition