FUTURE GENERATION IV SMR REACTORS: ASSESSMENT AND POSSIBILITY OF INTEGRATION IN CLOSED NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLES
Abstract
Over the previous decade, many economic, strategic, technical, and other arguments in favour of Small and medium-size reactors (SMR), present in the nuclear industry since the beginning of its use
for peaceful purposes, have become prominent. The Generation IV SMR is a next-generation design excelling in its considerable contribution to sustainability. Most favourable concepts impose high cool-
ant temperatures and high breeding ratios and represent progress in the design of future GEN IV SMRs. This paper presents a new review and evaluation process of SMR GEN IV reactors, which seem most suitable for early implementation. Evaluation presented in this paper was performed on the basis of the Value Analysis methodology, indicating the most economically interesting technologies with the shortest time to commercial availability. The SMR GEN IV reactor integration in advanced closed nuclear fuel cycles could an play important role in the energy transition to sustainable oriented low‐carbon energy future. Mass balance and material flow for nuclear fuel cycles involving SMRs were established with the NEA 1767 SMAFS model and through the webKORIGEN software. The advantages of SMRs attract embarking countries to look towards use of nuclear as domestic energy source, especially when the paradigm of energy independence is becoming strategically important.
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References
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