Abstract
The lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) has both a long history and a currency of innovation. With early work related to the mission of submarine propulsion dating to the 1950s, Russian scientists pioneered the development of reactors cooled by heavy liquid metals (HLM). More recently, there has been substantial design interest in both critical and subcritical reactors cooled by lead (Pb) or lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE), not only in Russia, but also in Europe, Asia, and the USA. This chapter reviews the historical development of the LFR and provides detailed descriptions of the recent and current initiatives to design a variety of LFR concepts with several different missions in mind: accelerator-driven subcritical (ADS) systems for nuclear materials management, small modular systems for deployment in remote locations, and central station plants for integration into developed power grids. It describes design criteria and system specifications; features particular to the LFR in terms of neutronics, coolant properties, and material compatibility issues; approaches taken to core and reactor design; and considerations related to the balance of plant and plant layout.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Alemberti A, Carlsson J, Malambu E et al (2009) European Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor. Seventh European Commission conference on Euratom research and training in reactor systems (FISA 2009), Prague, Czech Republic, 22–24June 2009
Aoto K, Nishi Y, Furukawa T (2003) Corrosion behavior of high chromium martensitic steel in LBE. Global 2003: Atoms for Prosperity: Updating Eisenhower’s Global Vision for Nuclear Energy (Global 2003), New Orleans, LA, 16–20 November 2003
Artioli C (2007) A-BAQUS: a multi-entry graph assisting the neutronic design of an ADS. Case study: EFIT. 5th International Workshop on the Utilization and Reliability of High Power Proton Accelerator, Mol, Belgium, 6–9 May 2007
Artioli C, Chen X, Gabrielli F et al (2008) Minor actinide transmutation in ADS: the EFIT core design. International Conference on the Physics of Reactors (PHYSOR 2008), Interlaken, Switzerland, 14–19 September 2008
Artioli C, Grasso G, Sarotto M et al (2009) ELSY neutronic analysis by deterministic and Monte Carlo methods: an innovative concept for the control rod systems. International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants 2009 (ICAPP09), Tokyo, Japan, 10–14 May 2009
Artioli C, Grasso G, Petrovich C (2010) A new paradigm for core design aimed at the sustainability of nuclear energy: The solution of the extended equilibrium state. doi: 10.1016/j.anucene.2010.03.016
Cinotti L, Aït Abderrahim H, Benamati G et al (2006) Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor. Conference on Euratom Research and Training in Reactor Systems (FISA 2006), Luxembourg, 13–16 March 2006
Cinotti L, Smith CF, Sienicki JJ et al (2007a) The potential of lead fast reactor and ELSY project. International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants 2007 (ICAPP07), Nice, France, 13–18 May 2007
Cinotti L, Smith CF, Sienicki JJ et al (2007b) The potential of the LFR and the ELSY Project. RGN, Année 4
Cinotti L, Locatelli G, Aït Abderrahim H et al (2008) The ELSY project. International Conference on the Physics of Reactors (PHYSOR2008), Interlaken, Switzerland, 14–19 September 2008
Cinotti L, Smith CF, Sekimoto H (2009) Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor (LFR) overview and perspectives. Proceedings of the GIF Symposium 2009, Paris, France, 9–10 September 2009
Fazio C, Alamo A, Almazouzi A et al (2005) Assessment of reference structural materials, heavy liquid metal technology and thermal-hydraulics for European waste transmutation ADS. GLOBAL 2005, Tsukuba, Japan, 9–13 October 2005
GEN IV International Forum (2008) 2008 Annual Report. Technical report
Greenspan E, Hong SG, Lee KB et al (2008) Innovations in the ENHS reactor design and fuel cycle. Prog Nucl Energy 50(2–6):129–139
Gromov BF (ed) (1998) Designing the Reactor Installation with Lead-Bismuth Coolant for Nuclear Submarines. The Brief History. Summarized Operation Results. Proceedings of the Conference Heavy Liquid Metal Coolants in Nuclear Technology, Obninsk, Russia, 5–9 October 1998
Hong SG, Greenspan E (2005) Power flattening options in the ENHS (encapsulated nuclear heat source) core. Prog Nucl Energy 47(1–4):178–189
Hougen OA, Watson KM, Ragatz RA (1959) Chemical process principles, 2nd edn, part 2. Wiley, New York
Knebel JU, Aït Abderrahim H, Cinotti L et al (2006) European Research Programme for the transmutation of high level nuclear waste in an accelerator driven system. 9th International Exchange Meeting on Partitioning & Transmutation (IEMPT9), Nimes, France, 25–29 September 2006
Maes D (2006) Mechanical design of the small-scale experimental ADS MYRRHA. Energy Conv Manag 47:2710–2723
Moore JJ Boyce EA (1990) Chemical metallurgy. Butterworths, London
Nishi Y, Kinoshita I, Nishimura S (2003) Experimental study on gas lift pump performance in lead-bismuth eutectic. International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants 2003 (ICAPP03), Cordoba, Spain, 4–7 May 2003
OECD-NEA (2007) Handbook on lead-bismuth eutectic alloy and lead properties, materials compatibility, thermal-hydraulics and technologies, F-92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux, France, OECD-NEAÂ 6195
Perera J (2003) Brest is best. Nucl Eng Int 48(582):18–21
Perry JH, Perry RH, Chilton CH et al (1963) Chemical engineers’ handbook, 4th edn. McGraw-Hill, New York
Sarotto M, Artioli C, Grasso G et al (2008) Open square Fuel Assembly design and drawings. Technical report D6 Deliverable, EURATOM
Sarotto M, Artioli C, Grasso G et al (2009) ELSY core design static, dynamic and safety parameters with the open square FA. Technical report D8 Deliverable, EURATOM
Sienicki JJ, Wade DC, Moisseytsev A (2007a) Role of small lead-cooled fast reactors for international deployment in worldwide sustainable nuclear energy supply. International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants 2007 (ICAPP07), Nice, France, 13–18 May 2007
Sienicki JJ, Moisseytsev A, Wade DC et al (2007b) Status of development of the small secure transportable autonomous reactor (SSTAR) for worldwide sustainable nuclear energy supply. International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants 2007 (ICAPP07), Nice, France, 13–18 May 2007
Smith CF, Cinotti L, Sekimoto H (2009) Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor (LFR) ongoing R&D and key issues. Proceedings of the GIF Symposium 2009, Paris, France, 9–10 September 2009
Toshinsky GI, Grigoriev OG, Efimov EI et al (2002) Safety aspects of SVBR – 75/100 reactor. Workshop on Advanced Nuclear Reactors, Safety Issues and Research Needs, Paris, France, 18–20 February 2002
U.S. DOE Nuclear Energy Research Advisory Committee and the Generation IV International Forum (2002) A Technology Roadmap for Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems. Technical report GIF-002-00
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this entry
Cite this entry
Cinotti, L., Smith, C.F., Artioli, C., Grasso, G., Corsini, G. (2010). Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor (LFR) Design: Safety, Neutronics, Thermal Hydraulics, Structural Mechanics, Fuel, Core, and Plant Design. In: Cacuci, D.G. (eds) Handbook of Nuclear Engineering. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-98149-9_23
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-98149-9_23
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-98130-7
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-98149-9
eBook Packages: EngineeringReference Module Computer Science and Engineering