Joshua Line
Joshua Hilfman
Disclaimer—This paper partially fulfills a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at the University
of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering. This paper is a student, not a professional, paper. This paper is based on publicly
available information and may not provide complete analyses of all relevant data. If this paper is used for any purpose other
than these authors’ partial fulfillment of a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at the University
of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, the user does so at his or her own risk.
GENERATION IV GAS-COOLED FAST REACTORS: THE NEXT
GENERATION OF NUCLEAR ENERGY
Joshua Line [email protected] Mena Lora 1:00 Joshua Hilfman [email protected] Vidic 2:00
Abstract-This paper will explore the features of the
Generation IV nuclear reactors, and why they are important
sources of power for the future. Generation IV nuclear
reactor development started in 2000, when the Generation
International Forum was created. Nuclear reactor designs in
service today will deplete the world’s supply of nonrenewable Uranium in the next century. Uranium is a more
effective fuel source than gasoline; one gram of Uranium can
keep a one-hundred-watt bulb lit for two decades compared
to the eight minutes one gram of gasoline can provide. The
life span of the new Generation IV nuclear reactors is twenty
years longer than older models, with extended sustainability
by factors of 50 to 100 times. Included in the Generation IV
nuclear reactors are the gas-cooled fast nuclear reactors.
Gas-cooled fast nuclear reactors can also use old spent fuel
of previous generations. The coolant for the Generation IV
reactor design is Helium gas. Using spent fuel is a technique
yet to be implemented, but could clean up hundreds of tons of
waste fuel. The heat produced by the Generation IV reactor
powers turbines creating electrical energy. Generation IV
reactors should be implemented since they can produce more
power than older nuclear reactors in a more effective way.
reactors are more likely to receive support and will be
designed more quickly with input from fourteen countries.
Global input will greatly benefit the Generation IV nuclear
reactors.
Zero emission energy is one aspect of nuclear reactors.
That means that when the nuclear reaction occurs no
greenhouse gases are released. T. Garret of the power
engineering group wrote an article, “Are Gen IV Nuclear
Reactors the Future?”, which explains that GIF’s goal is to
help accelerate the access to zero emission energy for both
public and private consumers. Also, leading climate experts
are behind Generation IV nuclear reactors and GIF since they
feel that nuclear energy is the only clean source of energy
capable of producing enough energy to replace fossil fuels
[2]. Nuclear reactors like the Generation IV nuclear reactors
produce energy by breaking down radioactive elements, so
burning fuel sources and releasing harmful gases is not part
of the process. This allows for zero emission when producing
energy. With access made available to both private and public
consumers, fewer carbon emissions will be produced with the
Generation IV nuclear reactors in place.
The selection of the right design to be implemented was
a complicated process. GIF selected six designs from the one
hundred designs submitted [2]. Backing from major
companies also helped fuel this endeavor of creating the
fourth generation of nuclear reactors. A few companies who
are behind this project include General Electric, General
Atomics, and Lockheed Martin, which are funding the
Generation IV program [2]. Receiving the endorsement of
major power companies allows the program to obtain money
for research and development, and provides GIF a group of
supporters.
Generation IV nuclear reactors will contain
improvements of older design models too. The article “Gen
IV Reactor Design”, on the Generation IV organization’s web
page, provides facts such as the increase in lifetime
expectancy of Generation IV nuclear reactors by twenty
years. Also, the Generation IV nuclear reactors minimize
waste products produced during the nuclear reaction [3]. The
increased life expectancy means that the reactors can run one
and a half times as long as older models, which increases
revenue for companies. Lessening waste products is also a big
benefit, since radioactive waste has to be stored for very long
periods of time before contact with the waste is safe.
Key Words- fast neutron reactor, fuel recycling, generation
international forum, Helium gas, and waste heat.
BASICS OF GENERATION IV NUCLEAR
REACTORS
Nuclear energy is a nonrenewable source of power
harnessed to create energy with no emissions. The Generation
IV nuclear reactors are the next set of designs being worked
on to create new sources of nuclear energy. “Gen IV Nuclear
Reactors”, an online news article from the world nuclear
organization, states that the idea of Generation IV nuclear
reactors started in early 2001 when the Generation IV
International Forum, more commonly known as GIF, was
created. GIF is a global organization that receives help from
fourteen countries, including the United States of America,
Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Japan, Russia,
South Korea, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United
Kingdom [1]. Receiving global contributions is an important
factor for this project, since nuclear power is so controversial.
With all of these countries behind GIF, Generation IV nuclear
University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering
3.3.2017
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Sustainability is another benefit with nuclear reactors. The
sustainability of the Generation IV nuclear reactors will be
increased by factors of 50 to 100 times that of what is
currently available [3]. With such a large increase, the nuclear
energy industry will be able to last much longer than
previously predicted.
neutrons that are preferred in older reactor designs since they
match the energy of the surrounding atoms and are absorbed
by Uranium very quickly. When the atom is split the neutrons
emerge with a high energy level. In older generations of
reactor designs moderators are incorporated, like water, to
slow the neutrons down enough to become thermal neutrons
[5]. The water absorbs some of the fast neutrons energy to
slow the neutron down so that the fast neutron can become a
thermal neutron. Fast neutrons though, can split Uranium
atoms, but also minor actinide elemental isotopes created
from the splitting of Uranium [5]. The Uranium atoms near
the targeted Uranium atom then get split by the newly released
neutrons. The fast neutron reactors, the category in which the
Generation IV nuclear reactors are included, are able to
produce more fast neutrons than those that are used up [5].
The probability of the fast neutrons hitting a target atom is
low. Therefore, producing more fast neutrons is vital, and
helps keep the reaction rate high. Heat is also produced in
great quantities during this process [4]. Temperature has to be
monitored, since high temperatures will cause melting within
the nuclear reactor, while at too low of a temperature, the
reactor will not be able to produce electricity. Nuclear power,
once set in motion, will sustain itself with a chain reaction and
can produce vast amounts of zero emission energy.
GENERATION IV NUCLEAR REACTORS:
NUCLEAR POWER
Commercial nuclear power generation, a process
developed in the mid twentieth century, has proven to be a
reliable source of zero emission energy. Nuclear reactor
designs created before the Generation IV nuclear reactors all
rely on one fuel source, enriched Uranium235, which is a
specific isotope of Uranium. Fission is the process of
obtaining this energy. M. Hecht, in the scientific magazine
article “Inside the Fourth-Generation Reactors”, explains that
a neutron is shot at a high speed at a specific Uranium atom’s
nucleus and is captured. Once that happens, this target
Uranium atom then splits into two or more lighter elements
and two neutrons [4]. Figure 1 demonstrates this occurring to
a target Uranium atom. In sending out two
ETHICAL ASPECTS OF NUCLEAR POWER
The ethical aspects of any technology are always at the
forefront of whether the device should be utilized. Generation
IV nuclear reactors are no exception to this rule. The use of
nuclear reactors depletes the world’s limited amount of nonrenewable Uranium. The research group 4tu produced a
scientific article, “Ethical Dilemmas of Nuclear Power
Production and Nuclear Waste Management”, which states
that the waste produced within the reactors must be isolated
for thousands of years before the radiation level is low enough
for living things to be around the waste [6]. There is no safe
method yet for disposing of the nuclear waste.
Implementation of the Generation IV nuclear reactors will
help fix part of this problem.
Storage for nuclear fuel brings up ethical concerns too.
The author K. Flanagan wrote an article “Ethical
Considerations for the Use of Nuclear Energy” about long
term storage buildings for nuclear waste and how they are at
risk for terrorism and natural disasters [7]. The spent fuel from
older reactor designs will be able to be used within the
Generation IV nuclear reactors which will clean up thousands
of pounds of waste fuel [3]. This is a brand new feature for
nuclear reactors since older models had to have enriched
Uranium235 to operate. Now we are able to use the radioactive
bi-products of the nuclear fission of Uranium235 allowing
more power from each sample of fuel to be obtained and
making it possible to clean up old spent fuel. In using the
spent fuel, the waste from the Generation IV nuclear reactors
will not have to be secluded for nearly as long since the halflife of this waste is not as long as that of previous generations
FIGURE 1 [4]
Uranium atom undergoing nuclear fission
more neutrons in each reaction, a chain reaction is able to
occur. Those neutrons that are captured by the target atom can
be of two types: fast neutrons or thermal neutrons.
Different types of neutrons occur in nature. An online
article published by an education institute, “Slow and Fast
Neutrons”, elaborates on fast neutrons and how they are
neutrons traveling with an energy level of about point one
Mega Electron-Volt and three Mega Electron-Volts, while
thermal neutrons have energies of just a few Electron-Volts
[5]. The difference in energy levels is huge, which makes the
neutrons behave differently when trying to hit the atom. Fast
neutrons have a low probability of being captured due to the
higher energy that they have. Thermal neutrons are the
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of reactors [3]. Nuclear power is able to produce more energy
than any other source of non-fossil fuel energies. With only
one gram of Uranium235 we are able to power a one hundred
Watt light bulb for two decades, while one gram of gasoline
would only power the same bulb for eight minutes [7]. This
amount of power would solve many of the carbon emissions
problems, since this power would be able to replace fossil fuel
sources. Overall, nuclear energy is controversial, yet has
many qualities that make the energy capable of solving world
problems.
POWER GENERATION
Power generation of any nuclear reactor is vital. It is
necessary to make this process the most efficient process
possible because efficiency determines how well the nuclear
reactor can run. The power generation is being based on the
previous design of very high-temperature gas reactors
(VHTR), since the VHTR is a trusted design to produce
electricity [1]. Using an older model as a basis for design
helps GIF make their design better because this technology
has already been proven to work. In order to make the process
more efficient, there are two steps for generating electricity in
the gas-cooled fast reactor. The first step takes place in the
primary circuit where the coolant Helium gas absorbs heat
from the nuclear reaction taking place. The Helium gas then
transfers its heat to the secondary circuit of Helium gas which
is mixed with nitrogen gas, and once heated up this gas
solution then turns a turbine due to the convection flow within
the reactor [8]. This helps cool off the reactor and provides
electrical energy all in one step. In the next step, all of the heat
left in the secondary loop is used. The heat from here then is
transferred into water, which then will heat up and produce
steam. This powers another turbine for a secondary method to
produce electricity within the gas-cooled fast reactor [8]. With
these two loops setup to generate electricity, there needs to be
a way to handle the energy produced. To handle the energy
production of the gas-cooled nuclear reactors, there is a 2400
Megawatt thermal per 1200 Megawatt electrical energy. This
is accomplished by installing three 800 Megawatt thermal
loops [1]. When the turbines are being turned by the heated
gas and steam, the electricity produced runs through the loops.
The 2400 Megawatt thermal per 1200 Megawatt electrical
energy means that the gas-cooled fast reactor requires 2400
Megawatts of thermal energy, which is required to produce
1200 Megawatts of electrical energy. A R. Stainsby, in his
research presentation explains how a very small positive void
coefficient is produced from the Generation IV gas-cooled
fast reactors [9]. It is vital to know what void coefficients are
since they show the reactivity that occurs when a bubble of
gas forms in the core. The void coefficient is the number that
shows how reactive the reactor is when voids arise [9]. If that
number is high then problems can arise from the gas bubbles
being in the core. A small yet positive void coefficient is
required so that the reaction happens and produces heat. The
higher it is though the more likely the reactor can occur
problems when a failure occurs in the plant. These problems
should be avoided at all costs in order to maintain the highest
level of safety possible.
The gas-cooled fast reactor also needs to do an
additional step for the production of power. This step that the
Generation IV gas-cooled fast reactor must perform is that the
reactor needs to produce Plutonium [1]. Plutonium is a manmade element. This element is two elements farther up than
Uranium on the periodic table. This means that in the
production of Plutonium the Uranium atom needs to gain two
more protons. Plutonium levels within the core of the reactor
GENERATION IV GAS-COOLED FAST
REACTORS
Generation IV gas-cooled fast nuclear reactors are one
of the six types of Generation IV nuclear reactors being
designed. Just like other nuclear reactor design models, the
Generation IV gas-cooled fast nuclear reactors generate heat
which will turn water into steam to then turn a turbine and
produce electricity [1]. The scientific article, from the GIF
organization’s official website, “Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor
(GFR)” explains that the fuel will be delivered in hexagonal
pellets that are designed to contain radioactive release [8].
This allows for easy addition of nuclear fuel when changing
out the old spent fuel. Running at high heat is critical for this
type of nuclear reactor. When in operation the gas-cooled
nuclear reactor’s temperature is kept around 850 degrees
Celsius at all times [1]. This ensures the nuclear reactors will
continue to produce electricity by transferring heat off to gas
to turn turbines, see figure 2 for a visual of the heat processes
that occur inside the gas-cooled fast reactor.
FIGURE 2 [8]
Diagram of the Generation IV gas-cooled fast reactor
Many components of older nuclear reactor designs are still
facilitated throughout the new Generation IV gas-cooled fast
nuclear reactors, yet some aspects are changed to allow for
newer technologies to be implemented.
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stay between 15% and 20% [1]. Keeping the levels of
Plutonium at this level allows the reactor to run at optimal
conditions. Power production output capabilities of the
Generation IV gas-cooled nuclear reactors are very high and
will help provide energy for thousands of consumers.
Actinide compounds of the fuel volume [9]. This would never
be obtainable in older generation of nuclear reactors. That is
due to the fact that the thermal neutrons do not affect the
Actinide isotopes like the thermal neutrons affect Uranium
causing a nuclear fission to happen. Also, the recycling of old
spent nuclear fuel allows for the full potential of energy
production from Uranium to be achieved [3]. Exploitation of
the full energy capabilities of Uranium is vital for the
sustainability of nuclear reactors to be extended as long as
possible. Also, the extra power produced from each gram of
Uranium is raised greatly. Because the recycling process of
spent nuclear fuel has not been used before, use of spent fuel
may raise some concerns with power production. Problems
should not arise from recycling of spent nuclear fuel due to
the performance remaining constant while recycling the
Actinide isotopes produced [9]. Maintaining constant
performance while using the spent fuel is essential since
power fluctuations during operation can cause serious
problems to the systems in the Generation IV gas-cooled
nuclear reactor. Fuel recycling will be a brand new feature
added to nuclear reactors and will allow for much greater
power production.
COOLANT: HELIUM GAS
One of the most important ingredients of nuclear
reactors is coolant used within the core. If there is a problem
with cooling the nuclear reactor, then disasters such as the
nuclear meltdowns in Fukishima, Chernobyl, and Three Mile
Island can transpire. Nuclear reactors in use today mainly use
moderators and coolant composed of water and graphite [3].
These substances do very well at controlling the reactors, yet
water reacts with many other substances, sometimes
explosively, and graphite will melt at high temperatures.
These situations are problems that the Generation IV gascooled nuclear reactors will fix. Helium gas is used as the
coolant for the gas-cooled fast reactors [9]. Using Helium gas
is a great improvement for two reasons. Helium does not react
with other elements. Also, Helium gas is already in the gas
state so the Helium gas cannot melt like graphite or boil away
like water. The Helium gas is kept under high pressure when
in the primary loop, where the Helium gas travels through
pipes to cool off the nuclear reactor [1]. This high pressure is
vital for the coolant since Helium will not flow in a
convection current under low pressure. A convection current
is the flow of heat. It can only be obtained with high pressure
due to the low thermal inertia of the Helium gas. When the
convection current is working, the hot Helium gas will travel
up the primary circuit, the Helium gas will then dissipate its
heat and flow back down to the core of the reactor to begin
cooling the nuclear reactor off again. This cycle it goes
through is called the Brayton cycle. This is due to the cycles
of heating and cooling the gases in the reactor go through.
HEAT PRODUCTION
Heat production from nuclear reactors is vital, yet a
problem at the same time. This problem arises because heat is
needed to create the electrical energy. Too much heat
produced, though, can cause a meltdown. There is a sweet
spot at which operators of nuclear reactors choose to run for
maximizing electrical output yet not causing any damage. The
Generation IV gas-cooled fast reactor is no exception to this
rule. However the Generation IV gas-cooled nuclear reactor
runs hotter than other designs of nuclear reactors. The
temperature of the gas-cooled reactor’s core will run around
850 degrees Celsius or 1,562 degrees Fahrenheit [1]. With this
amount of heat being produced constantly, special materials
are needed to handle this extreme heat. To accomplish this
task, silicon carbide is used in the hexagonal fuel tubes where
the fuel pellets go. These fuel tubes are reinforced with silicon
carbide fibers so that the strength is increased [8]. Most of the
elements that are solids in the top right corner of the periodic
table are very heat resistant and are potentially perfect nuclear
reactor materials. Bonding two of these atoms together gives
extra bonuses like added strength to the molecules. This high
heat component of the gas-cooled fast reactor is a benefit.
High heat capacity allows for favorable economics due to the
high heat efficiency the Generation IV gas-cooled nuclear
reactor is able to achieve during the reaction [9]. This lets the
reactor produce at maximum efficiency for the design used.
Achieving the highest efficiency possible is always one of the
best outcomes.
NUCLEAR FUEL RECYCLING
Recycling spent nuclear fuel will be a brand new
technology implemented in the Generation IV gas-cooled
nuclear reactors. This new process shall help accomplish
many new feats. One key aspect of recycling the waste fuel of
older reactor model designs is that the recycling process will
clean up and remove thousands of pounds of spent nuclear
fuel in storage right now. After reuse, the spent fuel will be
around less since the half-lives are decreased [3]. When the
spent fuel is used the radioactive elements get split into
isotopes and these isotopes have shorter half-lives due to all
the long-lived actinides are being used in the recycling
process. Actinides are some of the isotopes produced when
Uranium decays. These are elements within the Actinide
series on the periodic table. All of these isotopes are recycled
repeatedly for minimization of the half-life of the waste
products [1]. This also provides another benefit when the
recycling is done. The fuel used regularly will be fifty percent
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SAFETY
gas-cooled fast reactors too. Using fuel pellets in the shape of
hexagons is one such design form [8]. This shape allows the
fuel pellet to maintain its integrity for the time it spends in the
nuclear reactor core. Keeping the fuel integrity for a long time
period allows the reactor to continue running without breaks.
Using Plutonium as part of the nuclear reactor fuel
greatly improves the safety of the waste reactor fuel. When
the spent fuel is taken out of older reactor designs, no filtering
is done to the fuel. The scientific article from the European
Commission’s, “The Different “Generations” of Nuclear
Technology”, informs people that Plutonium is in the spent
fuel stored in countries [10]. Keeping Plutonium stored can
cause quite a problem if things go wrong. Plutonium is used
to make atomic bombs like one of the two atomic bombs used
in World War II against Japan. Having extra Plutonium stored
in countries is not good if people steal the waste fuel stored
there. Using up any Plutonium produced is an extra safety
feature of the Generation IV gas-cooled nuclear reactors.
Silicon and carbon based materials keep the reactor safer due
to the elements high heat tolerance [9]. This keeps everything
functioning correctly and not melting. Having parts melt or
deform under normal operating conditions will be detrimental
to nuclear reactors and any living organism around them. That
is so, since radiation leaking into the environment can occur.
Finally, the nuclear reactor has one other item that improves
safety. The small void coefficient of the reactors reactivity
[9]. This maintains low reactivity of compounds that should
not be reacting together within the gas-cooled fast reactor.
Passive systems within nuclear reactors are vital for the
safety of the plant. These systems rely on the laws of physics
to work not people. GIF released an article on their passive
safety systems titled “Benefits and Challenges”. This article
explains that passive systems mean that even if the operators
are not paying attention to what is happening these safety
systems will still work [11]. Having passive systems in place
are very beneficial. In the Generation IV gas-cooled fast
reactors they render having a core melt-down to almost
impossible to happen. One of these such features is the fuel
pellets expanding as they are heated which slows the reaction
down [11]. Slowing the reaction reduces heat produced and
keeps the reactor stable. Nuclear reactor safety for the
Generation IV gas-cooled fast reactor is not taken lightly and
shall help keep the nuclear reactors from having any problems
while producing zero emission energy for consumers.
Safety, one of the most important features of any system,
is taken very seriously with the Generation IV gas-cooled
nuclear reactors by the organizations involved in designing
them. Nuclear reactors spark controversy due to the safety of
these power plants. Meltdowns such as Fukishima, Three
Mile Island, and Chernobyl are the reason that many people
are concerned about the implementation of nuclear energy.
The Generation IV gas-cooled fast reactor has implemented
many steps to take safety very seriously, and to keep any
problems from happening to the reactor. One key feature of
the safety systems is the implementation of a thick steel
pressure vessel around the core that provides protection from
radiation and heat [1]. This helps protect the core from any
sort of sabotage that the core could sustain from terrorists or
natural disasters. Within that thick steel pressure vessel is the
primary circuit [8]. Applying pressure to the pressurized
primary circuit is vital to functioning because if the primary
circuit starts to lose pressure at any point in time the
convection flow halts. If the convection flow stops then the
reactor will not be cooled and will continue to heat up until
the reactor reaches a critical point. Pressure failure in the
primary circuit can be contained by the steel pressure vessel.
Once pressure failure is indicated a fan is turned on
automatically by the gas-cooled fast reactor’s systems and
cools the reactor core off. This can be maintained for
approximately 24 hours on the battery life, and then the decay
heat will power the emergency fan for the rest of the time
needed [9]. This is an incredibly key feature to have in the
Generation IV gas-cooled nuclear reactor design, since the
pressure vessel and emergency fan stand as a backup system
to keep the reactor cool. A hot reactor is a bad reactor, so
maintaining normal heat levels is necessary. Choosing an
adequate coolant for the job also helps keep the nuclear
reactor safer. The coolant for the Generation IV gas-cooled
fast reactor is the chemically inert element Helium gas [9].
Having the coolant for the nuclear reactor be chemically inert
means no bonds can be formed to other atoms under most
conditions. This is vital for safety since the formation of
compounds can cause corrosion of metals or explosions when
mixed with other compounds or elements.
Safety of the workers at the nuclear reactor is another
important aspect. While working at the gas-cooled fast reactor
workers will wear extra shielding to protect them from
radiation exposure [8]. Protecting the people operating the
nuclear reactor is key to keeping the gas-cooled reactor
running correctly. One other safety feature of the gas-cooled
fast reactors is the shutdown process. This process happens
with absorber rods in a two-step shutdown [9]. Shutting the
Generation IV gas-cooled fast reactor down this way allows
for the shutdown to happen in increments. Also, the absorber
rods that are utilized capture energy from the neutrons so that
the neutrons are slowed down and then do not have the
required energy to carry out nuclear fission. Using fuel pellets
in specific geometric shapes greatly increases the safety of the
SUSTAINABILITY
When the fuels from fossil fuel consumption are gone,
there is no way to reuse them and the waste is very harmful to
the environment. However, nuclear energy does not release
toxins into the air. Being able to reuse the fuel from old
nuclear reactors is the next important feature that the
Generation IV gas-cooled fast reactors will have. This will
make the process for sustainable and zero-emission energy
cleaner, which already is very environmentally. Nuclear
energy is much more powerful and efficient than oil. Because
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this new generation of nuclear reactors is scheduled to last for
approximately 60 years, and the fuel source for the gas-cooled
fast reactors can be reused, the sustainability of nuclear
energy is almost guaranteed. The World Nuclear Association
(WNA) states that, “Regardless of the various definitions of
'renewable', nuclear power therefore meets every reasonable
criterion for sustainability, which is the prime concern.” [12].
These criteria include: safe disposal of waste; recycling the
used nuclear fuel to reduce waste; security of the nuclear
reactors and the safety of the public. The new generation of
nuclear reactors will be more renewable than the ones that
preceded the gas-cooled fast reactors. Making them even
more environmentally friendly than previous models. There
is also the issue of where to dispose of and where to contain
nuclear waste. Nuclear waste is a clear concern, but the WNA
also states that, “In fact, nuclear power is the only energyproducing industry which takes full responsibility for all its
wastes, and costs this into the product – a key factor in
sustainability.” [12]. However, getting rid of the waste is
costly in both space and capital, and there needs to be a
workable system and regulations in place to be certain that the
nuclear waste doesn’t become a serious problem in the future.
When spent fuel is reused, waste is limited. The whole process
is superior to the older generations of nuclear reactors. Safety
has been increased in the reactors, which protects the public
and the sustainability of the Generation IV gas-cooled fast
reactors. Safety has been increased by switching the coolant
to something chemically inert and by having a two-system
shutdown method [1]. Sustainability factors within these
reactors overall have shot up immensely due to all of these
improvements. Factors of about 50 to 100 times are the
estimates for the increase in sustainability that will occur to
nuclear power once these reactors are complete [3]. The
increased sustainability will allow the nuclear power industry
to continue on for much longer and be less impactful on its
surroundings. Another important factor is that the gas and
water in the reactor are continuously reused inside a closed
loop so no more will need to be added to the reactor.
Sustainability is one focus of modern engineering projects
and it has greatly affected the Generation IV gas-cooled fast
reactors.
still unknown This increase of power production in the
reactors would limit the number of reactors that would be
implemented. Also, fuel recycling by the Generation IV gascooled nuclear reactors shall bring about improvements. Less
storage space will be needed for spent radioactive nuclear fuel
since more of the fuel will be broken down and used in the
reactors. Gas-cooled fast reactors are revolutionary in the way
they use gas instead of water to cool reactors, meaning less
water is needed in the process. Safety improvements highlight
the focus that the world has today on protecting everything
including people and the environment. Implementation of the
Generation IV gas-cooled fast reactors shall produce more
power for the world and help clean the planet up too.
SOURCES
[1] “Generation IV Nuclear Reactors.” World Nuclear
Association. 7.2016. Accessed 1.24.2017.
http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclearfuel-cycle/nuclear-power-reactors/generation-iv-nuclearreactors.aspx
[2] T. Garrett. “Are Gen IV Nuclear Reactors the Future?”
Power Engineering. 4.19.2017. Accessed 1.24.2017.
http://www.power-eng.com/articles/print/volume-120/issue4/departments/energy-matters/are-gen-iv-nuclear-reactorsthe-future.html
[3] “Gen IV Reactor Design.” International Forum. 2017.
Accessed 1.2417.
https://www.gen-4.org/gif/jcms/c_40275/gen-iv-reactordesign
[4] M. Hecht. “Inside the Fourth-Generation Reactors.” 21st
Century Science & Technology Magazine. 2001. Accessed
1.24.2017.
http://www.21stcenturysciencetech.com/articles/spring01/re
actors.html
[5] “Slow and Fast Neutrons.” Radioactivity.EU. Accessed
2.23.2017
http://www.radioactivity.eu.com/site/pages/Slow_Fast_Neut
rons.htm
[6] “Ethical Dilemmas of Nuclear Power Production and
Nuclear Waste Management.” 4TU Centre for Ethics and
Technology. 2016. Accessed 1.24.2017
http://ethicsandtechnology.eu/researchprojects/the_story_of_recycling_nuclear_waste_accompanyi
ng_risks_and_associated_values/
[7] K. Flanagan. “Ethical Considerations for the Use of
Nuclear Energy.” Global Ethics Network. 4.25.2013.
Accessed 1.24.2017.
http://www.globalethicsnetwork.org/profiles/blogs/ethicalconsiderations-for-the-use-of-nuclear-energy
[8] ”Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor (GFR).” GEN IV International
Forum. 2017. Accessed 1.25.2017
https://www.gen-4.org/gif/jcms/c_42148/gas-cooled-fastreactor-gfr
[9] R. Stainsby. “The Generation IV Gas Cooled Fast
Reactor.” AMEC. Accessed 1.25.2017.
RECAP OF GENERATION IV GASCOOLED FAST REACTORS
Generation IV gas-cooled fast reactors include many
new features and are marvels of what engineers can do. Zero
emission energy will be available worldwide in greater
quantities than what is available right now. With the extra
zero emission energy produced from the Generation IV gascooled fast reactors, less carbon will be emitted into the
atmosphere, which will help to stop global warming. Not only
will more energy be produced by nuclear reactors, but climate
change will be slowed down due to the implementation of
these nuclear reactors, although at this moment the amount is
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Paper #1
https://www.iaea.org/INPRO/cooperation/5th_GIF_Meeting/
GFR_Stainsby.pdf
[10] “The Different “Generations” of Nuclear Technology.”
European Commision. 11.08.2015. Accessed 2.27.2017.
http://ec.europa.eu/research/energy/euratom/index_en.cfm?p
g=fission&section=generation
[11] “Benefits and Challenges.” Gen IV International Forum.
2017. Accessed 3.28.2017
https://www.gen-4.org/gif/jcms/c_40368/benefits-andchallenges
[12] “Sustainable Energy.” World Nuclear Association.
6.2013. Accessed 3.23.2017.
http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/energyand-the-environment/sustainable-energy.aspx
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to thank the great writing instructors in
the writing center for reviewing our paper and proofing it.
Recognition for looking over parts of our paper goes to Angel
on floor ten of Tower B. Also, we would like to thank Danielle
and Alicia Marsh, since they both checked over the paper for
spelling mistakes. Also, we would like to thank our co-chair
Emily for giving us helpful tips on this assignment and proof
reading the research paper for us. Lastly, we are thanking Dr.
Budny for giving us the chance to present a paper like this and
giving us job experience with the presentation of this paper.
Without these people reviewing the paper we would not be
able to do nearly as well as we have.
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