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It's not theoretical. EBR-1 actually made more fissile material than it consumed, as confirmed by chemical measurements in 1953 [1].

[1] https://www.asme.org/wwwasmeorg/media/resourcefiles/aboutasm...



And did it run on said fuel? Or did any of them? It has never happened.


I mean yes, it was continuously breeding and the result of that breeding was in the reactor and partially was used to sustain the reaction.

What has not happened is that that fuel was removed from that reactor and then inserted into another reactor.


> I mean yes, it was continuously breeding and the result of that breeding was in the reactor and partially was used to sustain the reaction.

This is a lie just like the rest. EBR 1 had a separate core and blanket. It didn't run on the bred fuel any more than a PWR does.


You are right, I thought Shippingport reactor 3 did but it also was a blanket design.

I don't really think this matters that much. The neutronics is pretty well understood and the principle has been proven. Its just a matter of investing the money to do it.


Putting fertile material near fissile material and some sodium or lead or beryllium has never been the hard part. Every attempt has sunk at the filthy and expensive reloading part and the making something that doesn't catch fire, leak everywhere or melt down when used with the blanket in part.




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