Assessing the Potential of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in Spent Nuclear Fuel Management: A Review of the Generation IV Reactor Progress

• 발행기관: 한국방사성폐기물학회
• 저자명: Hong June Park Sun Young Chang Kyung Su Kim Pascal Claude Leverd Joo Hyun Moon Jong-Il Yun
• 간행물 정보: 『Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology (JNFCWT)』Vol.21 No.4, 571~576쪽, 전체 6쪽
• 주제분류: 공학 > 공학일반
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2023.12.30

국문 초록

The initial development plans for the six reactor designs, soon after the release of Generation IV International Forum (GIF) TRM in 2002, were characterized by high ambition [1]. Specifically, the sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) and very-high temperature reactor (VHTR) gained significant attention and were expected to reach the validation stage by the 2020s, with commercial viability projected for the 2030s. However, these projections have been unrealized because of various factors. The development of reactor designs by the GIF was supposed to be influenced by events such as the 2008 global financial crisis, 2011 Fukushima accident [2, 3], discovery of extensive shale oil reserves in the United States, and overly ambitious technological targets. Consequently, the momentum for VHTR development reduced significantly. In this context, the aims of this study were to compare and analyze the development progress of the six Gen IV reactor designs over the past 20 years, based on the GIF roadmaps published in 2002 and 2014. The primary focus was to examine the prospects for the reactor designs in relation to spent nuclear fuel burning in conjunction with small modular reactor (SMR), including molten salt reactor (MSR), which is expected to have spent nuclear fuel management potential.

키워드

GIF (Generation IV international forum) Generation IV reactor SMR (Small modular reactor) MSR (Molten salt reactor) GIF technical roadmap