Design Your Own Nuclear Reactor

Design Phase

Fuel

Moderator

Coolant

Water primary, water secondary — a closed loop system.

Geometry

Length x10–1000 cm

cm

Length y10–1000 cm

cm

Length z10–1000 cm

cm

Variables

Max coolant temp.300–1400 K

K

Min coolant temp.273–1300 K

K

Coolant tube dia.0.1–5 cm

cm

Porosity0.05–0.9

Void fraction of the core occupied by coolant.

Coolant flowrate100–40000 kg/s

kg/s

System Diagram

U-235 · H2O · H2O

Critical mass

1.48E+01

kg U-235

Thermal power

2.63E+03

MWth

Electrical power

9.02E+02

MWe

Cycle efficiency

34.2

%

Mod./fuel ratio

8.83E+02

atoms

Power density

3.93E+03

MW/m³

Max fuel temp.

1.38E+03

K

Neutron flux

3.68E+15

n/s·cm²

Summary of nuclear reactor design results

Volume of reactor1.00E+00 m³

Reactor geometric buckling2.96E-03 cm⁻²

Moderator-to-fuel ratio8.83E+02

Fuel number density3.81E+19 atoms/cc

Moderator mass6.70E-01 Mg H2O

Critical mass1.48E+01 kg U-235

Annual fuel burnup9.61E-01 Mg/yr

Specific power1.78E+02 kW/g

Power density3.93E+03 MW/m³

Avg. heat flux7.98E+02 W/cm²

Maximum fuel temperature1.38E+03 K

Avg. thermal neutron flux3.68E+15 n/s·cm²

Thermal power produced2.63E+03 MWth