Industrial aspects of revisited HTRs

摘要

The 'new' High Temperature Reactors (HTRs) are based on the direct gas turbine cycle which brings high inherent safety together with high efficiency. This combination makes them attractive cost-wise for countries with small and medium size grids that cannot afford larger units. For other, their fuel flexibility gives them extra attraction as burners of Plutonium (from weapons or LWR reprocessing) or to decrease minor actinide build-up- by use of thorium. Extrapolation of existing technologies, mostly materials, are needed to bring the concept to life.