Core Design of the Canadian Nuclear BatteryTM, a Very Small Modular Reactor for the Canadian Arctic

Abstract

The Canadian Nuclear Battery™ is a reactor design proposed by Dunedin Energy Systems Ltd. to supply power and heat to remote, off-grid communities.

This paper describes the long-life reactor core design, which features low-enriched uranium (LEU) TRISO particle fuel, a graphite moderator and heat pipes for transfer of heat from the core to the secondary side of the reactor. The use of vertical heat pipes is novel for this type of reactor because it provides a passive, multi-path, primary heat transport delivery eliminating the need for traditional primary side active heat pumps. The “battery” designation speaks to the solid-state architecture of the core.

The design concept was originally developed in the 1980’s by AECL Canada. This paper describes the research activities of, and some of the conclusions by a group of researchers at McMaster University. They include the confirmation of the original AECL design with modern codes, and an optimization of the core parameters, such as lattice pitch, fuel enrichment, heat pipe properties, and poison load for a 20-year operation without refuelling.

The paper describes the neutronic behaviour of the core and how it relates to the passive safety features of the reactor.