The smallest thermal nuclear reactor

Y. Ronen; E. Fridman; E. Shwageraus

doi:10.13182/NSE06-A2597

The smallest thermal nuclear reactor

Y. Ronen, E. Fridman, E. Shwageraus

Unit of Nuclear Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

There is a growing need for very small nuclear reactors for space applications and as portable high-intensity neutron sources. This technical note investigates the question of what is the smallest possible thermal reactor. It was found that the smallest reactor is a spherically shaped solution of ^242mAm(NO₃)₃ in water. The weight of such a reactor is 4.95 kg with 0.7 kg of ^242mAm nuclear fuel. The radius of the reactor in this case is 9.6 cm.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	90-92
Number of pages	3
Journal	Nuclear Science and Engineering
Volume	153
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.13182/NSE06-A2597
State	Published - 1 Jan 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Nuclear Energy and Engineering

Access to Document

10.13182/NSE06-A2597

Cite this

@article{e3875c87688d456c9a493e9a4f54a4cc,

title = "The smallest thermal nuclear reactor",

abstract = "There is a growing need for very small nuclear reactors for space applications and as portable high-intensity neutron sources. This technical note investigates the question of what is the smallest possible thermal reactor. It was found that the smallest reactor is a spherically shaped solution of 242mAm(NO3)3 in water. The weight of such a reactor is 4.95 kg with 0.7 kg of 242mAm nuclear fuel. The radius of the reactor in this case is 9.6 cm.",

author = "Y. Ronen and E. Fridman and E. Shwageraus",

year = "2006",

month = jan,

day = "1",

doi = "10.13182/NSE06-A2597",

language = "English",

volume = "153",

pages = "90--92",

journal = "Nuclear Science and Engineering",

issn = "0029-5639",

publisher = "Taylor and Francis Ltd.",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The smallest thermal nuclear reactor

AU - Ronen, Y.

AU - Fridman, E.

AU - Shwageraus, E.

PY - 2006/1/1

Y1 - 2006/1/1

N2 - There is a growing need for very small nuclear reactors for space applications and as portable high-intensity neutron sources. This technical note investigates the question of what is the smallest possible thermal reactor. It was found that the smallest reactor is a spherically shaped solution of 242mAm(NO3)3 in water. The weight of such a reactor is 4.95 kg with 0.7 kg of 242mAm nuclear fuel. The radius of the reactor in this case is 9.6 cm.

AB - There is a growing need for very small nuclear reactors for space applications and as portable high-intensity neutron sources. This technical note investigates the question of what is the smallest possible thermal reactor. It was found that the smallest reactor is a spherically shaped solution of 242mAm(NO3)3 in water. The weight of such a reactor is 4.95 kg with 0.7 kg of 242mAm nuclear fuel. The radius of the reactor in this case is 9.6 cm.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33646426160&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.13182/NSE06-A2597

DO - 10.13182/NSE06-A2597

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:33646426160

SN - 0029-5639

VL - 153

SP - 90

EP - 92

JO - Nuclear Science and Engineering

JF - Nuclear Science and Engineering

IS - 1

ER -

The smallest thermal nuclear reactor

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this