In recent years, Russian scientists have proposed a new type of neutron absorber using boron trifluoride as a high-temperature gas cooled nuclear reactor, which will greatly improve the safety of such reactors developed since the mid-20th century. The relevant research results are published in the journal Atomic Energy.

With relatively simple design and maintenance, the efficiency of high-temperature gas cooled reactors can reach around 50%, and the fuel efficiency is also very high, allowing them to operate without charging for about ten years. In addition, their volume may be relatively small. These advantages make high-temperature gas cooled reactors the best solution for ensuring energy and heat supply to residential areas and businesses in remote areas such as the Arctic. But since the mid-20th century, some technical problems have not been solved, making its series production uneconomical.

Researchers at Tomsk University of Technology have developed a new method to monitor the reactivity of high-temperature gas cooled reactors, which greatly improves their safety. It is based on the use of gaseous boron trifluoride as a neutron absorber for nuclear fuel release.

Vladimir Knyshev, assistant to the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Department at the university, stated that boron trifluoride makes it possible to rapidly affect changes in reactor neutron physics parameters when deviating from standards. The use of new absorbents not only helps to control nuclear reactions more effectively, but its concentrated version is also very suitable for safe emergency shutdown of reactors. He said that the main advantage of boron trifluoride is that it can remain in a gaseous state without decomposition at temperatures up to 1000 ℃. This compound is highly toxic, but it will completely neutralize in ordinary water at room temperature.

It is reported that this research achievement is based on a high-temperature gas cooled reactor with helium gas heat removal function developed by Tomsk University of Technology. The reactor adopts modular design, which can optimize and solve various energy problems.