Advanced Nuclear Reactor Designs (Generation IV Reactors)
Generation IV (Gen IV) nuclear reactors are advanced reactor designs being developed as successors to current Generation III reactors. Their goals include improved safety, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, better fuel utilization, and reduced nuclear waste.
The Generation IV International Forum (GIF) has identified six key technologies for this next generation:
|
Technology |
Coolant |
Temperature (°C) |
Key Features |
|
Gas-cooled Fast Reactor (GFR) |
Helium |
850 |
High efficiency, closed fuel cycle |
|
Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) |
Sodium |
550 |
Fuel recycling, waste reduction |
|
Lead-cooled Fast Reactor (LFR) |
Lead |
480–800 |
High temperature, long-term operation |
|
Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) |
Fluoride/Chloride Salt |
700–800 |
Thorium use, high safety |
|
Supercritical-Water-Cooled Reactor (SCWR) |
Water/Sodium |
510–625 |
High efficiency |
|
Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) |
Helium |
900–1000 |
Hydrogen production, very high temperatures |
Benefits and Challenges
Benefits
- Significant reduction in nuclear waste (waste becomes inert in ....
Do You Want to Read More?
Subscribe Now
Take Annual Subscription and get the following Advantage
The annual members of the Civil Services Chronicle can read the monthly content of the magazine as well as the Chronicle magazine archives.
Readers can study all the material before the last six months of the Civil Services Chronicle monthly issue in the form of Chronicle magazine archives.
Related Content
Science & Technology
- 1 Chandrayaan-3 Mission
- 2 Aditya-L1 Mission
- 3 Gaganyaan Mission
- 4 XPoSat – India’s First Polarimetry Mission
- 5 NASA’s Artemis Program
- 6 Key Private Players in India’s Space Sector
- 7 Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) TD-2 Testing
- 8 Success of SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle)
- 9 Discoveries by James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
- 10 Historic Advances in Black Hole Imaging
