Lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) overview and perspectives
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Authors
Cinotti, Luciano
Smith, Craig F.
Sekimoto, Hiroshi
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
2009-07-14
Date
Publisher
Livermore, California. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Language
Abstract
The GIF Technology Roadmap identified the Lead-cooled Fast Reactor (LFR) as a technology
with great potential to meet the small-unit electricity needs of remote sites while also offering advantages as a large system for grid-connected power stations. The LFR features a fast- neutron spectrum and a closed fuel cycle for efficient conversion of fertile uranium. It can also be used as a burner of minor actinides from spent fuel and as a burner/breeder. An important feature of the LFR is the enhanced safety that results from the choice of a relatively inert coolant. In the Roadmap, the LFR was primarily envisioned for missions in electricity and hydrogen production, and actinide management.
The application of lead technology to nuclear energy had its start in Russia in the 1970s and 80s where nuclear systems cooled by Lead-Bismuth Eutectic (LBE) were developed and deployed for submarine propulsion. More recently, attention to heavy liquid metal coolants for reactors has
developed in several countries around the globe as their advantageous characteristics have
gradually become recognized. This paper illustrates the technical progress achieved in the various
countries.
Type
Report
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Physics
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
European Commission/Euratom Framework Programmes
U.S. Depatment of Energy
Tokyo Institute of Technology
U.S. Depatment of Energy
Tokyo Institute of Technology
Funder
Format
8 p.
Citation
L. Cinotti, C.F. Smith, H. Sekimoto, "Lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) overview and perspectives," Proceedings of the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) Symposium, Paris, France, September 9-10, 2009, 8 p.
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.