Status of fast reactor technology development programme in Korea

The fast reactor technology is one of the most promising options for the electricity generation with efficient utilization of uranium resources and reduced waste. Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute completed the conceptual design of KALIMER in March 2002. Efforts are currently directed towards the development of basic key technologies and advanced fast reactor concepts. A new core design concept with enhanced proliferation resistance has been suggested and the reactor size has been increased from 150 to 600 MWe while maintaining the passive residual heat removal capability. Concept study on the ultra long life cores with power densities higher than the conventional ones has been performed. In this concept, a DUPIC-like fuel fabrication technology is applied to the metallic fuel whenever the limit on the clad integrity is reached. 900 MWt Pb cooled breakeven reactor concept is also being developed. Cooperations with IAEA, OECD/NEA, CEA are on-going. I-NERI Project for studies on passive safety features of sodium cooled reactors has been initiated and participation in the Gen-IV Program is planned. (author)