Advancements and challenges in small modular lead/lead bismuth eutectic cooled fast reactors: A 30-year overview

IF 2.3 3区工程技术 Q1 NUCLEAR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Annals of Nuclear Energy Pub Date : 2025-08-01 Epub Date: 2025-04-08 DOI:10.1016/j.anucene.2025.111434

Qiming Yang, Youqi Zheng, Hongchun Wu

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Abstract

The small modular lead/lead bismuth eutectic cooled fast reactor (SMLFR) has advantages of high inherent safety, low investment risk, long operating cycle and facilitates flexible deployment. Given this, it is regarded as one of the most competitive candidates for the sustainable development of nuclear energy. This review synthesizes advancements and challenges in the design of small modular lead/lead bismuth eutectic cooled fast reactors over the past three decades across different countries. Most of these designs feature compact active cores, extended refueling cycles, and advanced fuel/structural materials, enhancing both economic and safety performance. These innovations provide valuable experiences for the further developments of SMLFRs. However, the practical deployment of SMLFRs faces critical engineering challenges such as material corrosion, thermal shocks and other coolant-related issues. This paper further discusses potential technological advancements to address these challenges and facilitate the commercial application of SMLFR technology.

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小型模块化铅/铅铋共晶冷却快堆的进步和挑战：30年综述

小型模块化铅铋共晶冷却快堆（SMLFR）具有固有安全性高、投资风险低、运行周期长、部署灵活等优点。鉴于此，它被认为是核能可持续发展最具竞争力的候选国之一。本文综述了过去三十年来不同国家在小型模块化铅/铅铋共晶冷却快堆设计方面的进展和挑战。这些设计大多具有紧凑的活动堆芯、延长的换料周期和先进的燃料/结构材料，从而提高了经济性和安全性。这些创新为小型生物燃料反应堆的进一步发展提供了宝贵经验。然而，SMLFRs的实际应用面临着严峻的工程挑战，如材料腐蚀、热冲击和其他冷却剂相关问题。本文进一步讨论了潜在的技术进步，以解决这些挑战，并促进SMLFR技术的商业应用。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Annals of Nuclear Energy 工程技术-核科学技术

CiteScore

4.30

自引率

21.10%

发文量

632

审稿时长

7.3 months

期刊介绍： Annals of Nuclear Energy provides an international medium for the communication of original research, ideas and developments in all areas of the field of nuclear energy science and technology. Its scope embraces nuclear fuel reserves, fuel cycles and cost, materials, processing, system and component technology (fission only), design and optimization, direct conversion of nuclear energy sources, environmental control, reactor physics, heat transfer and fluid dynamics, structural analysis, fuel management, future developments, nuclear fuel and safety, nuclear aerosol, neutron physics, computer technology (both software and hardware), risk assessment, radioactive waste disposal and reactor thermal hydraulics. Papers submitted to Annals need to demonstrate a clear link to nuclear power generation/nuclear engineering. Papers which deal with pure nuclear physics, pure health physics, imaging, or attenuation and shielding properties of concretes and various geological materials are not within the scope of the journal. Also, papers that deal with policy or economics are not within the scope of the journal.