Selection of Appropriate Generation IV Nuclear Reactor Development: A Systems Engineering Approach

In 2012, The Generation IV International Forum (GIF) (then representing 10 countries) selected six (6) reactor technologies to be further developed on the basis of being safe, sustainable, cost-effective, and resistant to weapons proliferation. Nowadays, there are several designs of Gen IV nuclear power plants (NPP) but few will be deployed due to strategic, economic, and even political reasons. Such factors posed a challenge in selecting an ideal Gen IV technology to be implemented. In this paper, selection criteria for implementing an appropriate Gen IV NPP program is developed for use in a systems engineering approach for decision making. In this paper, some selection criteria for implementing Gen IV technology is developed. It involves three goal areas with 10 goals and 25 criteria under them. It is important to note that metrics and the corresponding weight factors for each criteria has not been set due to its subjective nature and will be based on technology experts' determination or a country's suitable need for such nuclear systems.