Safety approach of generation IV nuclear reactors

Numerous energy forecasting studies predict a shortage of uranium resources in the 21st century. Against this backdrop, in 2000 the US Department of Energy (DOE – Department of Energy) set up the GIF (Generation IV International Forum) –, which today brings together thirteen countries, including France –. Its first action was to select six power reactor technologies (or concepts), known as Generation IV, judged to be the most promising not only in terms of saving uranium resources, but also with regard to the following criteria:

• reducing radioactive waste, especially high-level, long-lived waste;

• improved safety ;

• robustness against non-proliferation and malicious acts ;

• economic competitiveness.

The six channels selected are :

• sodium fast reactors ( – SFR);

• gas-cooled fast reactors (gas fast reactors – GFR);

• lead-cooled fast reactors ( – LFR);

• molten salt reactors ( – MSR);

• very high or high temperature reactors ( – V/HTR);

• supercritical water reactors ( – SCWR).

The industrial deployment of these new technologies could take place around the middle of the 21st century, after initial experience with experimental or prototype reactors. France has demonstrated its commitment to the development of Generation IV reactors in the context of research into the possibilities of transmutation of long-lived radioactive elements in reactors (see, for example, the explanations given on the " http://www.laradioactivite.com " website), mainly through the launch of studies on a new SFR-type reactor, called ASTRID (Advanced Sodium Technological Reactor for Industrial Demonstration). This project is led by CEA and involves AREVA and EDF. CNRS has also launched studies on an MSR.

Europe is involved in Generation IV technologies, funding a number of studies, research and development projects. In addition, the European Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform (SNETP) has drawn up a number of documents proposing research and development avenues to be explored for some of the Generation IV technologies.