HTGR Knowledge Base

Conference Article: Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR)

Abstract

In the past (70’s and 80’s), HTR concept has already proved its viability in US, GB and Germany operating up to 950 °C. Recently, conclusions of GEN4 forum give a great opportunity to recover this concept now dedicated to cogeneration of electricity and industrial heat-production (hydrogen…). To improve in a consistent manner the economic performances, e.g. thermodynamic cycle and hydrogen processes efficiency, this new concept (Very High Temperature Reactor :VHTR) must produce an outlet gas temperature above 1000 °C. In order to fulfill these two major requirements (higher operating temperature and hydrogen production in terms of technological challenges and safety), an important international R&D program is underway to establish the viability of the VHTR by 2010 and to optimize its design features as well as operating parameters by 2015.

This paper deals with the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) R&D program to support the GEN4 initiative for this VHTR concept. The R&D projects on “Materials and components” and that on “High performance Helium turbine” are crosscutting with the needs for the other advanced gas cooled reactor of the Generation IV Technology Roadmap : the Gas Fast Reactor (GFR). The other R&D projects are specific to the VHTR. This paper addresses all R&D projects with its crucial feasibility and performance issues. A special chapter deals with overlapping between GEN4 and EURATOM R&D plans.

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Reference:

Proceedings of the Conference on High Temperature Reactors, Beijing, China, September, 22-24, 2004

International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)

HTR-2004, pp:1-26