TECHNOLOGY

Generation IV

SCWR (Supercritical Water cooled Reactor)

Figure 21.Schematic diagram of SCWR concept
Source: "A technology Roadmap for Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems", U.S. DOE Nuclear Energy Research Advisory Committee and Generation IV International Forum, 12.2002, http://www.gen-4.org/PDFs/GenIVRoadmap.pdf [55]

This energy system concept is a combination of current PWR and BWR designs, with supercritical technology established in fossil fuel power plants operating with working fluid at supercritical parameters ( water above 374 ºC / 22,1 MPa ). The SCWR reactor has only one circuit with water at temperature of 625 ºC in the reactor outlet and pressure 25 MPa. Such parameters allow water to exist in the same supercritical phase simultaneously with steam and liquid. Any heat conversion system is redundant because coolant is able to drive the turbine directly. Because of low moderating effect for supercritical water, being present in the core, additional moderator is indispensable to keep thermal character of the reactor. However, thermal reactor is not only option for the SCWR design. After serious R&D progress fast neutrons spectrum is possible to being deployed in this technology. Fuel cycle in SCWR energy system is typical one through uranium cycle in thermal reactor. In case of future fast reactor, fuel reprocessing will be needed.

Reference design is 1500 MWe reactor with safety systems such as ESBWR reactor contains. The ESBWR design is ready for commercial deployment, so its safety solutions are well developed, and proven in prototype units. The SCWR reactor reaches efficiency of even 50% (but more probably is 44%) due to very high temperatures. This is the main advantage of the concept, which additionally reduces costs along with simplified balance of plant. The reactor can be constructed as pressure vessel as well as pressure tube reactor.

SCWR energy system is targeted in electricity. Actinides management is treated as an option. Demonstration unit should be ready until 2022. [50],[51],[52],[54],[55], [56],[57],[58],[59]

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