Chapter 2 - Overview of Reactor Systems and Operational Environments for Structural Materials in Gen-IV Fission Reactors

Abstract

The Generation-IV Reactors offer significant advantages over typical light-water reactors including breeding and waste management capacity, increased power conversion efficiency, passive safety features, and in some cases process heat for other applications (e.g., hydrogen production). This class of reactors includes three fast reactors [sodium fast reactor (SFR), lead fast reactor (LFR), and gas-cooled fast reactor (GFR)], one thermal reactor [very high-temperature reactor (VHTR)] and two fast or thermal reactors [supercritical water reactor (SCWR) and molten salt reactor (MSR)]. This chapter describes the extreme environments in these reactors, the materials challenges posed by these environments, candidate materials to address these challenges, and also leads the reader to other chapters for more detailed discussion of these classes of engineering materials.