All U.S. nuclear reactors, which currently provide more than half of the nation’s carbon-free power, are first- or second-generation light water reactors. This means they use water as both a coolant and neutron moderator to control the nuclear reaction and produce useful electricity. However, the growing need for more clean energy is prompting scientific experts, policy makers and members of private industry to excitedly pursue all kinds of reactor designs.
A new generation of nuclear reactors, “Gen-IV,” aims to improve safety while optimizing efficiency and cost. One Gen-IV reactor design at the vanguard of development is the sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR). SFRs with metallic-alloy fuel are garnering a significant amount of interest because they have intrinsic passive safety and can produce more nuclear fuel material than they consume. This can reduce the amount of waste generated over the lifetime of the reactor.
Read more from Argonne National Laboratory here.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.
