Technological Frontiers in Gen4 Nuclear Energy Systems and Small Reactors

Nuclear power will play an important role in a carbon-constrained world. New concepts of advanced nuclear energy systems have been proposed and developed. Due to significant superiority over current-generation and evolutionary systems in the areas of sustainability, safety and reliability, and economics, the Gen4 nuclear energy systems and small module reactors have been significantly developed in recent years. Specifically, Sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR), Lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR), Gas-cooled fast reactor (GFR), Very high-temperature gas reactor (VHTR), Molten salt reactor (MSR), Supercritical water-cooled reactor (SCWR), Accelerator driven system (ADS) and Small modular reactor (SMR) are the subjects of greatest concern. With the progress of technology, parts of the advanced reactor types have been in the phase of prototype reactor construction and demonstration project construction in developed and developing countries.

There are many innovative designs in reactor physics, thermal-hydraulic, fuel, material, major equipment and operating characteristics, which help the Gen4 nuclear energy systems and small reactors to achieve the expected superiority and get new applications. This research topic aims to provide a platform for the discussion of the recent development in design, analysis and key technologies on these innovations of Gen4 nuclear energy systems and small reactors.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:
1. Conceptual design of Gen4 nuclear energy systems and small reactors
2. New applications of the new reactor
3. Nuclear waste transmutation and nuclear fuel breeding
4. Particle transport and nuclear data
5. Heat and mass transfer in liquid metal and supercritical fluid
6. Thermal-hydraulics and accident analysis
7. Design method innovation and software development
8. Fuel and materials for new reactor
9. Design and operation characteristics of key equipment
10. Technology of liquid metal coolant