Page 24 - Dynamics and Control of Nuclear Reactors

References 15

2.8 Early twenty-first century construction
As this book was being written (2019) a number of plants had closed or are
scheduled to close (mainly in the U.S., Eastern Europe, Germany, and Japan),
but many new nuclear power plants are reaching operation and being built around
the world in the first half of the twenty-first century. Over fifty units are scheduled
for completion by 2020. This includes two plants in the U.S., but most of the activ-
ity is outside the U.S., including Russia, India, South Korea, United Arab Emirates,
but mainly in China. Most Chinese plants are Generation III or III+ PWRs.
Generation IV plants are also under construction, a high-temperature gas-cooled
reactor (a Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR)) and a 600MWe sodium-cooled
fast reactor. China embarked on a massive program with cooperation with foreign
suppliers initially (mainly the U.S. and France) and subsequently with a growing
indigenous industry. China has even entered the market to supply plants in other
countries. India completed the construction of a 500MWe prototype SFR, and is
developing an Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) using Thorium-based
oxide fuel [5].
Generation V reactors are speculative concepts that may be suitable as successors
to Generation IV systems. It is too early to identify leading candidates, their technical
feasibility or their economic competitiveness. Conceptually, these would incorporate
features such as remote and near-autonomous operation, ‘walk-away’ safety, and
safeguard from external threats. It will be several years before Generation V receives
serious consideration.

Exercises

2.1. Make a review of literature, find information about Generation III+ and Gen-
eration IV reactors, and document their unique features. See References.

References
[1] S.M. Goldberg, R. Rosner, Nuclear Reactors: Generation to Generation, American Acad-
emy of Arts and Sciences, 2011.
[2] Rosatom Overseas, The VVER Today: Evolution, Design, Safety, www.rosatom.ru, 2018.
[3] Status report—108, VVER-1200 (V-491), www.iaea.org, 2018.
[4] OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, Technology Roadmap for Generation IV Nuclear Energy
Systems, January 2014.
[5] M. Todosow, A. Aronson, L.-Y. Cheng, R. Wigeland, C. Bathke, C. Murphy, B. Boyer,
J. Doyle, B. Fane, B. Ebbinghaus, The Indian Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR)
and Non-Proliferation Attributes, Brookhaven National Laboratory, August 2012. BNL-
98372-2012.