Nuclear Power Technology Development Section
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TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES IN FAST REACTORS AND ACCELERATOR DRIVEN SYSTEMS (ADS) FOR ACTINIDES AND LONG LIVED FISSION PRODUCT TRANSMUTATION
Liquid metal cooled fast reactors (LMFRs) have ben under development for many years, primarily as breeders. They have accumulated more than 200 reactor-years of operational experience based on successful designs including the small Prototype Fast Reactor in the UK, the prototype Phénix fast reactor in France, the BN-350 in Kazakstan (which produced electricity and desalination seawater), BN-600 in Russia, Monju in Japan, and the 1200 MW(e) Superphénix in France. In addition, there is a considerable base of experience with lead-bismuth eutectic cooled propulsion (submarine) reactors build and operated in the former USSR.
Fast reactors use fast neutrons for sustaining the fission process and can simultaneously convert plentiful fertile isotopes of uranium or thorium into fissile isotopes that can be used for fuel. Plutonium breeding allows fast reactors to extract 60-70 times as much energy from uranium as do thermal reactors. In addition, fast reactors could potentially help reduce plutonium stockpiles, and reduce the required isolation time for high-level radioactive waste by making use of transuranic radioisotopes and transmuting some of the most cumbersome long-lived fission products.
Current LMFR activities include the construction in China of the small China Experimental Fast Reactor (CEFR) with first criticality scheduled for 2008; the development of the small KALIMER design in the Republic of Korea; the successful operation of the Indian Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR), especially for fuel irradiation and materials research; the development of the medium size Prototype FBR (PFBR) in India for which construction started in the final quarter of 2003; Japanese initiatives to restart Monju; the Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute’s “Feasibility Study on a Commercialised Fast Reactor Cycle Systems”; efforts in Russia to complete the BN-800 reactor at Beloyarsk by 2010; the 2003 restart of Phénix in France, principally for experiments on long-lived radioactive nuclide incineration and transmutation; several designs around the world of advanced fast reactors having improved economics and enhanced safety.
Development activities are underway in the frame of the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) on lead alloy and sodium liquid metal-cooled reactor systems, and for gas (helium) cooled fast reactors (GFR) with an integrated fuel cycle with full actinide recycle. Similar efforts are ongoing in Russia.
Research on fast neutron spectrum hybrid systems [e.g., accelerator driven systems (ADS)] is also underway in several countries. The potential advantages of ADS systems are low waste production, high transmutation capability, enhanced safety characteristics and better long-term utilization of resources (e.g., with thorium fuels). ADS research activities include the development of the HYPER concept by the Republic of Korea, as well as design studies and research on basic physical processes in Russia, in the EU countries (e.g. IP-EUROTRANS in the frame of the 6th framework programme), and in the US under the Advanced Fuel Cycles Initiative.
| Liquid Metal Fast Reactors | |
|---|---|
| In operation | 3 |
| Under construction | 0 |
| Number of countries with FRs | 3 (+1 with a test reactor) |
| Generating capacity, GW(e) | 1.039 |
| Operating experience, reactor-years | 141 |
All IAEA's Liquid Metal Cooled Reactors and accelerator driven systems (ADS) activities are conducted in the framework of the Technical Working Group on Fast Reactors (TWG-FR), formerly International Working Group on Fast Reactors (IWG-FR), which is the only global forum for the review and discussion of LMFR programmes. This is of particular importance for those countries which are implementing fast reactor programmes. Participation in TWG-FR activities ensures that international safety practices are taken into account during the design and operation of fast reactors, and that no country with a fast reactor programme is isolated in fast reactor technology development.
The TWG-FR has mostly focused on experimental and theoretical aspects of fast reactor technology and safety. A benchmark test with experimental data was conducted to verify and improve the codes used for the seismic analysis of reactor cores. A co-ordinated research project was conducted to apply acoustic signal processing for the detection of boiling or sodium/water reactions in LMFRs. Benchmark analyses addressed accident behaviour and design improvements of the Russian BN-800 reactor within the frame of a collaborative project between the IAEA and the European Community. In co-operation with the Department of Nuclear Safety, assistance was provided to ensure safe operation during the remaining lifetime and the development of an effective decommissioning programme for the BN-350 reactor in Kazakhstan. A co-ordinated research project is being conducted with the objective to reduce the calculational uncertainties of the LMFR reactivity effects. The first proposed benchmark model is based on the BN-600 hybrid core.
To foster the exchange of technical information and to contribute to the preservation of the base of LMFR technology knowledge, an updated LMFR database (FRDB), available on the Internet, has been developed. The FRDB contains detailed data of 35 experimental, prototype and commercial LMFRs. Each reactor plant is characterized by about 400 parameters, by design data and by relevant graphic materials.
The harmonized efforts, a database of existing and planned ADS experimental facilities, as well as R&D programmes for ADS and related technology development was established.
In response to expressed needs by MEmber States, NPTDS has established a Fast Reactor Data Retrieval and Knowledge Preservation Initiative.
| Members of the TWG-FR (formerly IWG-FR), established in 1967 | |
|---|---|
| Belarus | Kazakhstan |
| Brazil | Republic of Korea |
| China | Russian Federation |
| France | Switzerland |
| Germany | United Kingdom |
| India | United States of America |
| Italy | European Commission |
| Japan | OECD/NEA |
The detailed results of the activities performed within the framework of the project " Technology Advances in Fast Reactors and Accelerator Driven Systems for Actinides and Long-Lived Fission Products Transmutation" are available on the Internet .