Core optimization of 5 MWth Lead-bismuth cooled Super small Module Reactor (LSMR) based on separative work

As a concept of Lead-bismuth cooled Super small Module Reactor, LSMR was proposed for achieving high economic quality. In this paper, based on separative work, preliminary core optimization on LSMR was performed by using oxide fuel. The studies were committed to improving the neutron multiplication performance per separative work (keff/SW) under three key design constraints. Subject to the design constraints on the effective multiplication factor, the core radius and the fuel enrichment, the optimization studies had been performed for LSMR. The results showed that the maximum keff/SW was primarily related to the fuel enrichment under imposed design constraints. The maximum keff/SW could be about 4.4E-6 when the fuel enrichment was 19.75% and the core radius was 50 cm based on the specific design.