Status Of Research And Technology Development For Supercritical Water Cooled Reactors

There is considerable interest in both developing and developed countries in the design of innovative water cooled reactors (WCRs) and, owing to the higher thermal efficiency and significant system simplifications, supercritical water cooled reactors (SWCRs). Compared to conventional WCRs the SCWR concept requires extensive, comprehensive research and development (R&D). Fundamental research in understanding important phenomena has been completed successfully in providing information required for the next step of development. Currently, a few concepts have been assessed as being technical feasible, and several other concepts are under development. These concepts are described in this publication, together with detailed analysis of remaining gaps requiring future R&D.

The supercritical water cooled reactor (SCWR) is an innovative water cooled reactor concept which uses water pressurized above its thermodynamic critical pressure as the reactor coolant. This concept offers high thermal efficiencies and a simplified reactor system, and is hence expected to help to improve economic competitiveness. Various kinds of SCWR concepts have been developed, with varying combinations of reactor type (pressure vessel or pressure tube) and core spectrum (thermal, fast or mixed). There is great interest in both developing and developed countries in the research and development (R&D) and conceptual design of SCWRs. This publication consists of the background and objectives, descriptions of current SCWR design concepts, and major technical achievements from the CRP tasks based on the results of R&D at participating institutes and through their close collaboration. It provides researchers and engineers with a comprehensive and reliable database.

Results of the project "High Performance Light Water Reactor--Phase 2," carried out September 2006-February 2010 as part of the 6th European Framework Program.

This book presents a comprehensive review of studies in nuclear reactors technology from authors across the globe. Topics discussed in this compilation include: thermal hydraulic investigation of TRIGA type research reactor, materials testing reactor and high temperature gas-cooled reactor; the use of radiogenic lead recovered from ores as a coolant for fast reactors; decay heat in reactors and spent-fuel pools; present status of two-phase flow studies in reactor components; thermal aspects of conventional and alternative fuels in supercritical water?cooled reactor; two-phase flow coolant behavior in boiling water reactors under earthquake condition; simulation of nuclear reactors core; fuel life control in light-water reactors; methods for monitoring and controlling power in nuclear reactors; structural materials modeling for the next generation of nuclear reactors; application of the results of finite group theory in reactor physics; and the usability of vermiculite as a shield for nuclear reactor.

Super Light Water Reactors and Super Fast Reactors provides an overview of the design and analysis of nuclear power reactors. Readers will gain the understanding of the conceptual design elements and specific analysis methods of supercritical-pressure light water cooled reactors. Nuclear fuel, reactor core, plant control, plant stand-up and stability are among the topics discussed, in addition to safety system and safety analysis parameters. Providing the fundamentals of reactor design criteria and analysis, this volume is a useful reference to engineers, industry professionals, and graduate students involved with nuclear engineering and energy technology.

Materials and Water Chemistry for Supercritical Water-cooled Reactors is unique in that it brings together materials and water chemistry, their interrelationship, the historical perspective and their application to SCWR conceptual design. Written by world's leading experts, all active in the area of materials and chemistry R&D in support of GEN IV SCWR, this book presents for the first time a comprehensive reference on these topics, and in particular, how these data relate to the SCWR design itself. This book is an essential text for researchers in the areas of supercritical water-cooled reactor materials and chemistry, working in industry or academia. It will also give newcomers to the field a survey of all of the available literature and a clear understanding of how these studies relate to the design of the SCWR concept. The material presented is at a specialist's level in materials or corrosion science, or in water chemistry of power plants.