U.S. ALMR safety approach and licensing status

The Advanced Liquid Metal Cooled Reactor (ALMR) in the United States is based on the Power Reactor Innovative Small Module (PRISM) concept originated by the General Electric Company (GE). This concept features a compact modular system suitable for factory fabrication, and a high degree of passive and natural safety characteristics. The safety approach emphasizes accident prevention, backed up by accident mitigation. First-round safety evaluations by U.S. regulators have found that the design provides passive, natural, and other desirable features enhancing the safety of the power plant. A Preapplication Safety Evaluation Report (PSER) from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is anticipated in early 1993. (author)