When did the Clementine reactor begin operating as a fast-neutron reactor?
The Clementine reactor began operating in 1946 at Los Alamos National Laboratory. It generated only 25 kilowatts thermal power but proved the concept viable.
Questions about Fast-neutron reactor
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What fuel enrichment level do fast reactors require compared to standard uranium-235 levels?
Fast reactors require fuel enriched to higher levels, often around 20 percent fissile material. A standard uranium atom contains about 0.7 percent of the isotope uranium-235 and 99.3 percent of uranium-238.
Which liquid metal coolants are used in all operating fast reactors today?
All operating fast reactors use liquid metal coolants like sodium, lead, or lead-bismuth eutectic instead of water. Sodium-cooled designs dominate commercial operations today with Russia running two such reactors on a large scale.
How much more fissile material can real-world fast reactors produce per cycle than they consume?
Real-world reactors have achieved ratios closer to 12:10, ending each cycle with 20 percent more fissile material than they started with. This capability allows fast reactors to utilize depleted uranium or spent fuel from conventional plants as feedstock.
When did the Monju reactor experience its serious sodium leak and fire incident?
The Monju reactor in Japan experienced a serious sodium leak and fire in 1995 that led to its closure for years. Despite minor incidents, some sodium-cooled units like Phénix operated safely for three decades.