Fast breeder reactor

At a chance of leakage accident of the secondary system of the 'Monju' occurred on December, 1995, some wide discussions on promoting method on future development of BWR were carried out, to validate to progress positioning on one of expected choice for future non-fossil energy resources and its R and D under flexible planning and to elucidate importance of efficient progressing of its R and D to early show forecasting of actual use as possible. Under such background, Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute began the Investigative Research on its Actual Use Strategy at cooperation of relative organization in and out of Japan. In this research, investigation and evaluation on wide technical choice adopted by innovative technologies were carried out, and some judging means required for elucidation of the actual use strategy were maintained, to summarize results from June, 1999 to March, 2001 on Phase 1 to extract some hopeful candidate concepts for its actual use under participation and cooperation of the electric business companies, the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, and so on, as a system of all Japan. And then, in Phase 2 (about five years), after carrying out its engineering tests and so on, consistency as whole of the FBR cycle is investigated, to specify some essential research theme as well as to summarize some candidate concepts on its actual use. (G.K.)