HTGR Knowledge Base

Conference Article: Activities of RAHP and problems to be cleared towards commercialization

S. AN (Chairman, RAHP; Professor Emeritus, Univ. of Tokyo),Y. TSUCHIE (Rep. Secretary, RAHP; The Japan Atomic Power Co.)

Abstract

Research Association of HTGR Plant (RAHP) is the sole research association on HTGR Plants in industrial sector of Japan, since its establishment in 1985.

Activities in these years were to analyze world R&D trends, to set-up fundamental development strategies, and to incorporate the study results into actions towards commercialization of HTGR.

RAHP is now mainly investigating fuel cycle aspects and development programs of small modular reactors, such as US-Russian GT-MHR and South African PBMR.

Conclusions obtained through the activities so far are:

(a) From view points of effective use of energies and reduction of environmental impacts in global scale, development of nuclear power is essential, and that of HTGR is desirable in particular, because of its very highly inherent safety and feasibility of high temperature heat utilizations. The role of HTGR is inter-complementary with those of LWR and FBR.
(b) Future subjects and problems to be cleared towards commercializing HTGR are; (1) safety, technical and economical demonstrations, including inherent safety, fuel integrity as key of the safety, gas turbine cycle, high temperature system performances, etc., (2) acceptance of safety design concept, and preparation for its evaluation and licensing.
(c) Construction of demonstration plant(s) as a total system, through effective international cooperation, such as internationally common or sharing development on basic machinery systems between GT-MHR and PBMR Programs, becomes most significant.

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key words: Gas Cooled Reactor, Nuclear Technology
Reference:
Proceedings of a Technical Committee Meeting held in Beijing, People's Republic of China, 2-4 November 1998
International Atomic Energy Agency, International Working Group on Gas-Cooled Reactors, Vienna (Austria)
IAEA-TECDOC--1210, pp:67-73