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An impression of EPR at Olkiluoto …..

Generation IV Systems

• Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor (GFR)

• Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor (LFR)

• Molten Salt Reactor (MSR)

• Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor (SFR)• Supercritical Water-Cooled

Reactor (SCWR)

• Very-High-Temperature Reactor (VHTR)

UK Selected Generation IV Design Concepts

GEN IV Reactor System Acronym Spectrum Fuel cycle

Very High Temp. Reactor VHTR Thermal Once-Through

Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor GFR Fast ClosedSodium Cooled Fast Reactor SFR Fast

ClosedLead Alloy-Cooled Reactor LSF Fast ClosedSupercritical Water Reactor SCWR Thermal &

Fast Once/ClosedMolten Salt Reactor MSR Thermal Closed= UK priority systems

Note that 5 out of the 6 systems are either FRs or

closed-cycle breeders

Wide UK experience with different systems

Sodium-cooled Sodium-cooled fast reactorsfast reactors

DFRDFR

PFRPFR

19501950

19601960

19701970

19801980

19901990

PresentPresent

Gas-cooled Gas-cooled reactorsreactorsMagnoxMagnox

AGRAGR

Water-cooled Water-cooled reactorsreactors

SGHWRSGHWR

Sizewell B Sizewell B PWRPWR

HTRHTR

UK Priorities• Very High Temp gas-cooled Reactor - Logical progression

from BNFL’s interest in PBMR and gas-cooled technology for

thermal reactors

• Gas-cooled Fast Reactor - Logical progression for gas

cooled reactor technology for fast reactors

• Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor - Maintain capability to

understand & evaluate liquid-metal cooled fast reactor

systems as well as utilise historic UK knowledge

PBMR fuel

Heat applications & temperatures

Thermo-chemical process - Hydrogen generation without CO2 production

• Best option for H2 production via nuclear is thermo-chemical process.

• Process consumes water,& high temperature heat.

• Releases only H2, O2 & low temperature heat.

• All reagents are recycled

The hydrogen economy brings opportunities for all energy

sources Nuclear reactor

Hydrogen Production

(eg electrolysis or thermo-chemical splitting of water)

energy

Fuel cellFuel cell