The concept of invariance with respect to transformations of a group is one of the most important and successful ideas of nineteenth century mathematics. After the use of coordinates had dominated many branches of mathematics and physics for centuries, a critical review of these methods was initiated by a new look on its foundations.

The General Theory

"The EA operates indefinitely in a closed cycle, namely the discharge of a fuel load, with the exception of fission fragments, is re-injected in the sub-critical unit with the addition of natural Thorium to compensate for the burnt fuel. After many cycles an equilibrium is reached, in which the Actinide concentrations are the balance between burning and C incineration E. The fuel is used much more efficiently, namely the power obtained from 780 kg of Thorium is roughly the same as the one from 200 tons of native Uranium and a PWR (33 GW.day/t of burn-up). The probablility of a criticality accident is suppressed since the device operates at all times far away from it. Spontaneous convective cooling by the surrounding air makes a C melt-down E leak impossible. An EA module consists of a 1500 MWth unit with dedicated 1.0 GeV proton accelerator of 12.5 mA. A compact reliable and modular Cyclotron has been designed. A plant may be made of several such modules. For instance a cluster of three such modular units will produce about 2,000 MWe of primary electrical power. A relevant feature of our design is that it is based on natural convection to remove the heat generated inside the core. The EA is a large, passive device in which a proton beam is dumped and the heat generated by nuclear cascades is extracted without other major elements of variability. The delivered power is controlled exclusively by the current of the accelerator, The fuel needs no access during the whole burn-up and it may be kept sealed up as a non-proliferation safeguard measure. Contrary to Fusion, there are no major technologcal barriers. After = 700 years the radio-toxicity left is about 2000 times smaller than the one of an ordinary Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) for the same energy. Geological storage (1e+06 years) is virtually eliminated or at least strongly reduced [<= 500 Ci/GWe.y) after 1000 years]. It could be furher reduced (<35 Ci) ""incinerating"" some of the nuclides. Radioactivity dose to individuals truncated to 10,000 years and due to operation is about1/330 of the one of PWR and about 1/33 of Coal burning."

/pdf/conceptual-design-of-a-fast-neutron-operated-high-power-108f9jh05j.pdf

Conceptual design of a fast neutron operated high power energy amplifier

Fuels for sodium-cooled fast reactors: US perspective

http://www.efn-uk.org/l-street/closed-cycles/index_files/Carmack-metallicFuels2009.pdf

Metallic fuels for advanced reactors

With the rapid improvement of computer performance, tremendous heat generation in the chip becomes a major serious concern for thermal management. Meanwhile, CPU chips are becoming smaller and smaller with almost no room for the heat to escape. The total power-dissipation levels now reside on the order of 100 W with a peak power density of 400–500 W/cm2, and are still steadily climbing. As a result, it is extremely hard to attain higher performance and reliability. Because the conventional conduction and forcedair convection techniques are becoming incapable in providing adequate cooling for sophisticated electronic systems, new solutions such as liquid cooling, thermoelectric cooling, heat pipes, vapor chambers, etc. are being studied. Recently, it was realized that using a liquid metal or its alloys with a low melting point as coolant could significantly lower the chip temperature. This new generation heat transfer enhancement method raised many important fundamentals and practical issues to be solved. To accommodate to the coming endeavor in this area, this paper is dedicated to presenting an overall review on chip cooling using liquid metals or their alloys as coolant. Much more attention will be paid to the thermal properties of liquid metals with low melting points or their alloys and their potential applications in the chip cooling. Meanwhile, principles of several typical pumping methods such as mechanical, electromagnetic or peristaltic pumps will be illustrated. Some new advancement in making a liquid metal cooling device will be discussed. The liquid metal cooling is expected to open a new world for computer chip cooling because of its evident merits over traditional coolant.

Liquid metal cooling in thermal management of computer chips

This book describes the major design features of fast breeder reactors and the methods used for their design and analysis. The foremost objective of this book is to fulfill the need for a textbook on Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) technology at the graduate level or the advanced undergraduate level. It is assumed that the reader has an introductory understanding of reactor theory, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics. The book is expected to be used most widely for a one-semester general course on fast breeder reactors, with the extent of material covered to vary according to the interest of the instructor. The book could also be used effectively for a two-quarter or a two-semester course. In addition, the book could serve as a text for a course on fast reactor safety since many topics other than those appearing in the safety chapters relate to FBR safety. Methodology in fast reactor design and analysis, together with physical descriptions of systems, is emphasized in this text more than numerical results. Analytical and design results continue to change with the ongoing evolution of FBR design whereas many design methods have remained fundamentally unchanged for a considerable time.

Fast Breeder Reactors

Fast Spectrum Reactors presents a detailed overview of world-wide technology contributing to the development of fast spectrum reactors. With a unique focus on the capabilities of fast spectrum reactors to address nuclear waste transmutation issues, in addition to the well-known capabilities of breeding new fuel, this volume describes how fast spectrum reactors contribute to the wide application of nuclear power systems to serve the global nuclear renaissance while minimizing nuclear proliferation concerns. Readers will find an introduction to the sustainable development of nuclear energy and the role of fast reactors, in addition to an economic analysis of nuclear reactors. A section devoted to neutronics offers the current trends in nuclear design, such as performance parameters and the optimization of advanced power systems. The latest findings on fuel management, partitioning and transmutation include the physics, efficiency and strategies of transmutation, homogeneous and heterogeneous recycling, in addition to valuable fuel cycle results. The systems section covers fuel pin and assembly design, fuel pin performance, overall systems considerations, and a major chapter on core materials where advances in metal fuels and long-life structural capabilities are featured. The safety section includes both traditional safety analysis techniques as well as a perspective on methods to achieve passive safety response. Whereas the bulk of the book is focused on sodium-cooled fast spectrum systems, a final section features gas-cooled and lead-cooled fast reactor systems

Fast spectrum reactors

The use of the ferritic/martensitic HT-9 alloy as the cladding and duct material for the Core Demonstration Experiment (CDE) directly contributed to the attainment of the high fuel burnup levels cr...

A Liquid-Metal Reactor Core Demonstration Experiment Using HT-9

The paper reviews major computer code packages presently utilized or under active development in the U.S. for deterministic liquid-metal fast breeder reactor safety analysis. Although the review covers the very large accident domain from intact predisassembly geometry through radiological consequences, an attempt was made to categorize code systems according to the physical problems solved to provide a working orientation for those not intimately involved in the field. Mathematical and computational aspects were given particular focus in the hope of stimulating development of more efficient numerical approaches in those areas of greatest need.

Mathematical and computational techniques employed in the deterministic approach to liquid-metal fast breeder reactor safety

As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Marie Curie's first Nobel Prize, awarded to her and her husband, Pierre, for their monumental discovery of radioactivity, it is an ideal time to reflect on the countless ways that their astounding work has so marvellously enriched our daily lives. Through artful use of vivid anecdotes that give vibrancy to technical explanations, Waltar provides numerous examples of radiation's many uses in agriculture, medicine, electricity generation, modern industry, transportation, public safety, environmental protection, space exploration, and even archaeology and the arts. In the future, Dr Waltar foresees continuous improvement in many areas of science, industry, and medicine through tapping the incredible potential of Marie Curie's initial insights.

Alan E. Waltar

Papers

Fast Breeder Reactors

Fast spectrum reactors

A Liquid-Metal Reactor Core Demonstration Experiment Using HT-9

Mathematical and computational techniques employed in the deterministic approach to liquid-metal fast breeder reactor safety

Radiation And Modern Life: Fulfilling Marie Curie's Dream