Liquid metal cooled reactors: Experience in design and operation

In 2002, within the framework of the Department of Nuclear Energy's Technical Working Group on Fast Reactors (TWG-FR), and according to the expressed needs of the TWG-FR Member States to maintain and increase the present knowledge and expertise in fast reactor science and technology, the IAEA established its initiative seeking to establish a comprehensive, international inventory of fast reactor data and knowledge. More generally, at the IAEA meeting of senior officials convened to address issues of nuclear knowledge management underlying the safe and economic use of nuclear science and technology (Vienna, 17-19 June 2002), there was widespread agreement that, for sustainability reasons for fissile sources and waste management, long-term development of nuclear power as a part of the world's future energy mix will require the fast reactor technology. Furthermore, given the decline in fast reactor development projects, data retrieval and knowledge preservation efforts in this area are of particular importance. This consensus concluded from the recognition of immediate need gave support to the IAEA initiative for fast reactor data and knowledge preservation. To implement the IAEA initiative, the scope of fast reactor knowledge preservation activities and a road map for implementation have been developed. The IAEA supports and coordinates data retrieval and interpretation efforts in the Member States joining the initiative and ensures the collaboration with other international organizations (mainly OECD/NEA) and eventually establishes and maintains a portal for accessing the fast reactor knowledge base. The IAEA assists Member State activities by providing an umbrella for information exchange and collaborative R and D to pool resources and expertise within the framework of the TWG-FR and the Agency's International Nuclear Information System (INIS) and Nuclear Knowledge Management Section (NKMS). The IAEA collects and summarizes the scientific and technical information on key fast reactor technology aspects in an integrative sense useful to engineers, scientists, managers, university students and professors. This publication has been prepared to contribute toward the IAEA activity to preserve the knowledge gained in the liquid metal cooled fast reactor (LMFR) technology development. This technology development and experience include aspects addressing not only experimental and demonstration reactors, but also all activities from reactor construction to decommissioning. This publication provides a survey of worldwide experience gained over the past five decades in LMFR development, design, operation and decommissioning, which has been accumulated through the IAEA programmes carried out within the framework of the TWG-FR and the Agency's INIS and NKMS.