Nuclear energy. Which reactors for tomorrow?

Nuclear energy is making a strong come-back in energy strategies. However, to better manage the nuclear fuel resources, the future reactors will have to save it thanks to a higher burnup (more than 0.8% instead of 0.5% today) and recycling rate. Future reactors will be used also as heat generation sources (800-1000 deg. C) for the production of hydrogen, the gasification of coal, the steel-making industry, the petrochemistry etc.. Several technologies are under study: the main ones studied in France are the sodium-cooled FBR, the fast gas-cooled reactor and the very-high temperature reactor. Three other technologies are studied at the international scale: the fast lead-cooled reactor, the molten-salt reactor and the supercritical water reactor. This paper presents briefly the general principles of these technologies with their respective advantage and drawbacks. (J.S.)