Projeto conceitual do núcleo de um reator Small Modular Reactor do tipo PWR para um submarino de propulsão nuclear utilizando o método de Monte Carlo

Abstract

The responsibility to protect Brazilian jurisdictional waters is a constitutional task of the Brazilian Navy and of great importance for the preservation of the natural resources present in this area. To do so, it is necessary to have vessels capable of carrying out this mission. The use of submarines, especially with nuclear propulsion, greatly contributes to permanent surveillance. However, the technological challenges in obtaining a submarine with nuclear propulsion are enormous, including the construction of an on-board nuclear plant suitable for the submarine's operating demands, with a high degree of safety, compactness and long refueling cycles. To meet these criteria, the design concept of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) is very interesting, as they are reactors with high safety, small size and expected longer operating cycles. The objective of this study is to carry out the conceptual design of the core of a Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) type SMR reactor for the propulsion of a submarine using the Monte Carlo Method with code OpenMC. In order to do so, the study was divided into stages, starting with a simple, homogeneous core modeling, for which different core sizes, levels of low enriched fuel, types of reflectors and quantity of absorbing material were evaluated. Subsequently, a first heterogeneous, more realistic configuration is proposed for some cores with greater possibility of use. The results obtained are consistent with other SMR plant projects that are underway.