Design concept for the US advanced liquid metal reactor programme

The US advanced liquid metal reactor will breed more fissile material than it consumes and will have the capability of consuming long-life actinide radioactive wastes from both thermal and other breeder reactors. The design approach includes: compact reactor modules sized to enable factory fabrication - the target commercial plant will use nine modules arranged in three identical 465 MWe power blocks; passive shutdown heat removal for loss-of-cooling events; passive reactivity transition to a safe, stable state for undercooling and overpower events, even with failure to scram; and prevention and mitigation protection against severe accidents such that formal evacuation plans are not necessary. The reactor module, the intermediate heat transport system, and most of the steam generator system are underground. This has an estimated cost benefit in meeting requirements for radioactivity containment, seismic design, sodium fire mitigation and providing improved protection from tornados, missiles and sabotage. (4 figures) (UK)