GCFR Program in the United States

The use of helium rather than sodium as a coolant for fast breeder reactors has a number of advantages. This has led to a significant effort to develop a gas-cooled fast breeder reactor as an alternate to the liquid metal fast breeder reactor. There are three interrelated programs being carried out: an industry program in the U.S. which is supported by a large number of electric utility companies, an ERDA-supported program, and an international program, primarily in Germany and Switzerland. The design of a 300-MW(e) demonstration plant, which is based on high-temperature gas-cooled reactor component and system technology and liquid metal fast breeder reactor fuel and physics technology is described along with the development program which is being carried out