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Generation-IV nuclear power: A review of the state of the science

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  • Abram, Tim
  • Ion, Sue

Abstract

The Generation-IV consortium seeks to develop a new generation of nuclear energy systems for commercial deployment by 2020-2030. These systems include both the reactors and their fuel-cycle facilities. The aim is to provide significant improvements in economics, safety, sustainability, and proliferation resistance. The systems selected for development are the very high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (VHTR), the sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR), the gas-cooled fast reactor (GFR), the lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR), the molten salt reactor (MSR) and the super-critical water-cooled reactor (SCWR). UK organisations plan to contribute to the first three of these systems because of its existing capabilities and experience with gas-cooled systems, graphite cores, and SFRs. The science base for the VHTR and SFR systems is reasonably established, although there are gaps. For the VHTR, these include the performance of graphite at high neutron doses, and the performance of the fuel. For the SFR, the behaviour of fuels containing minor actinides, and processes for their recycling and refabrication into new fuel, must be established. The GFR presents many technical challenges, because it would need fuel and structural materials capable of withstanding extremes of fast neutron flux and high temperatures. Adequate heat removal from the core under fault conditions is likely to determine its feasibility.

Suggested Citation

  • Abram, Tim & Ion, Sue, 2008. "Generation-IV nuclear power: A review of the state of the science," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(12), pages 4323-4330, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:36:y:2008:i:12:p:4323-4330
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    2. Xu, Cheng & Zhang, Qiang & Yang, Zhiping & Li, Xiaosa & Xu, Gang & Yang, Yongping, 2018. "An improved supercritical coal-fired power generation system incorporating a supplementary supercritical CO2 cycle," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C), pages 1319-1329.
    3. Stephen Thomas & M. V. Ramana, 2022. "A hopeless pursuit? National efforts to promote small modular nuclear reactors and revive nuclear power," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(4), July.
    4. Santos, Ricardo Luis Pereira dos & Rosa, Luiz Pinguelli & Arouca, Maurício Cardoso & Ribeiro, Alan Emanuel Duailibe, 2013. "The importance of nuclear energy for the expansion of Brazil's electricity grid," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 284-289.
    5. Qiuwen Wang & Hu Zhang & Puxin Zhu, 2023. "Using Nuclear Energy for Maritime Decarbonization and Related Environmental Challenges: Existing Regulatory Shortcomings and Improvements," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-23, February.
    6. Humphrey, Uguru Edwin & Khandaker, Mayeen Uddin, 2018. "Viability of thorium-based nuclear fuel cycle for the next generation nuclear reactor: Issues and prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 259-275.
    7. Faustino Moreno-Gamboa & Ana Escudero-Atehortua & César Nieto-Londoño, 2022. "Alternatives to Improve Performance and Operation of a Hybrid Solar Thermal Power Plant Using Hybrid Closed Brayton Cycle," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-24, August.
    8. Pfenninger, Stefan & Keirstead, James, 2015. "Comparing concentrating solar and nuclear power as baseload providers using the example of South Africa," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 303-314.
    9. Brook, Barry W., 2012. "Could nuclear fission energy, etc., solve the greenhouse problem? The affirmative case," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 4-8.
    10. Delsoto, G.S. & Battisti, F.G. & da Silva, A.K., 2023. "Dynamic modeling and control of a solar-powered Brayton cycle using supercritical CO2 and optimization of its thermal energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 336-356.
    11. Hyeonmin Kim & Jung-Taek Kim & Jaehyuk Eoh & Dong-Won Lim, 2018. "Development of a Physics-Based Monitoring Algorithm Detecting CO 2 Ingress Accidents in a Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, December.
    12. Crespi, Francesco & Sánchez, David & Rodríguez, José M. & Gavagnin, Giacomo, 2020. "A thermo-economic methodology to select sCO2 power cycles for CSP applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(P3), pages 2905-2912.
    13. Sungjoo Lee & Byungun Yoon & Juneseuk Shin, 2016. "Effects of Nuclear Energy on Sustainable Development and Energy Security: Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor Case," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-16, September.
    14. Crespi, Francesco & Gavagnin, Giacomo & Sánchez, David & Martínez, Gonzalo S., 2017. "Supercritical carbon dioxide cycles for power generation: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 152-183.
    15. Ramana, M.V. & Saikawa, Eri, 2011. "Choosing a standard reactor: International competition and domestic politics in Chinese nuclear policy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(12), pages 6779-6789.
    16. Lorenzo Malerba & Abderrahim Al Mazouzi & Marjorie Bertolus & Marco Cologna & Pål Efsing & Adrian Jianu & Petri Kinnunen & Karl-Fredrik Nilsson & Madalina Rabung & Mariano Tarantino, 2022. "Materials for Sustainable Nuclear Energy: A European Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for All Reactor Generations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-48, March.
    17. Locatelli, Giorgio & Mancini, Mauro & Todeschini, Nicola, 2013. "Generation IV nuclear reactors: Current status and future prospects," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 1503-1520.
    18. Frederik Reitsma & Peter Woods & Martin Fairclough & Yongjin Kim & Harikrishnan Tulsidas & Luis Lopez & Yanhua Zheng & Ahmed Hussein & Gerd Brinkmann & Nils Haneklaus & Anand Rao Kacham & Tumuluri Sre, 2018. "On the Sustainability and Progress of Energy Neutral Mineral Processing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, January.
    19. Damiani, Lorenzo & Revetria, Roberto, 2015. "New steam generation system for lead-cooled fast reactors, based on steam re-circulation through ejector," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 292-300.
    20. Zhu, Zilong & Chen, Yaping & Wu, Jiafeng & Zhang, Shaobo & Zheng, Shuxing, 2019. "A modified Allam cycle without compressors realizing efficient power generation with peak load shifting and CO2 capture," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 478-487.

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    Keywords

    Fuel cycle VHTR SFR;

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