Preliminary design on core physics of medium-size modular lead-cooled fast reactor M2LFR-1000

[Background] The Lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) features high operation temperature, low-pressure and chemically inert liquid lead with good thermodynamic properties as coolant, hence it has an irreplaceable advantage in production of electricity and consuming actinides from spent pressurized water reactor (PWR) fuel. [Purpose] This study aims to explore preliminary design on core physics of the 1000 MW (thermo) medium-size modular lead-cooled fast reactor (M2LFR-1000) proposed by University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). [Methods] After obtaining the atom density of the nuclides at different burn-up levels by using SRAC/COREBN code, the Monte Carlo code MCNP (Monte Carlo N Particle Transport Code) was employed to conduct the preliminary neutronic design of the core and burn-up analysis. [Results] The results of calculations cover the core power distribution, reactivity coefficient, neutron kinetic parameters, control rod worth and core lifetime. Especially, the capability of M2LFR-1000 core to transmute minor actinides was evaluated. [Conclusions] Results show that the M2LFR-1000 core scheme is reasonable, satisfies the design requirements and has excellent capability to transmute Minor Actinides. (authors)