Table of Contents
What is an Advanced Modular Reactor?
An Advanced Modular Reactor (AMR), or Generation IV design, represents the upgraded version of current nuclear reactors. They are the next big thing making nuclear power even better. People from all over the world are working together to design these reactors to make nuclear energy safer and more eco-friendly. Generation IV reactors are all about being super safe, super efficient, and creating much less nuclear waste than the current reactors. They are basically the future of clean energy!
Key Features of an Advanced Modular Reactor
International Collaboration
Generation IV International Forum
The Generation IV International Forum (GIF) is a global alliance comprising 13 countries focused on collaboration in the field of nuclear energy, with a specific aim to develop capability, expertise and feasibility within the field of the Advanced Modular Reactor (AMR) design.
The original members include Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, UK and USA. Switzerland, China, Russia, Australia, and the European Union later joined. GIF’s goal is to collaborate on research and development rather than building reactors.
Additionally, the USA, Canada, France, Japan, and the UK have committed to joint research and information exchange on six key AMR technologies. The systems, designed for deployment between 2010 and 2030, utilise closed fuel cycles to minimise waste. Three are fast neutron reactors, one is epithermal, and two operate with slow neutrons. Cooling methods vary, including light water, helium, lead-bismuth, sodium, or fluoride salt, with the latter three offering safety advantages at low pressure.
Timeline of the Generation IV International Forum
- 2000: The Generation IV International Forum (GIF) was launched by the US Department of Energy in 2000 and officially chartered in 2001.
- 2002: In late 2002, after two years of consideration and reviewing around 100 concepts, the GIF, representing ten countries, identified six nuclear reactor technologies as the future of clean, safe, and cost-effective energy.
- 2005: The GIF Framework Agreement is an international agreement aimed at the development of advanced nuclear energy systems and was signed by 10 member states in 2005.
- 2011: In 2011, the 13 members extended the GIF charter indefinitely.
- 2018: The UK ratified the Framework Agreement in 2018.
- 2019: In 2019, Terrestrial Energy, a Canadian company, became the first private sector member.
Types of Advanced Modular Reactor
While classifications can vary slightly, there are generally agreed to be six key types of Advanced Modular Reactor.
High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR)
An HTGR, or High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor, uses super hot helium gas as the coolant. They operate at really high temperatures, even hotter than 1000°C. Why is that cool? Well, the hotter it gets, the more electricity it can make.
Molten Salt Reactor (MSR)
An MSR, or Molten Salt Reactor, uses super hot salt to keep things from overheating. It’s really good at making electricity and doesn’t create much waste. The cool thing? The stuff that makes the power is actually mixed into the salt, which makes it work efficiently and keeps it safe.
Gas-cooled Fast Reactor (GFR)
A GFR, or Gas-cooled Fast Reactor, is a type of nuclear power plant that’s still being developed. It uses helium gas to cool down and unlike traditional reactors that slow down neutrons, fast reactors keep their neutrons moving quickly. This allows them to use the uranium more efficiently, and they can even create extra fuel that they consume. This makes fast reactors a promising technology for sustainable and efficient energy production.
Lead-cooled Fast Reactor (LFR)
An LFR, or Lead-cooled fast reactor, uses molten lead to cool down. It’s a super advanced power plant that can make a lot of electricity without creating a lot of waste. And the cool part? It can even make its own fuel as it operates!
Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR)
An SFR, or Sodium-cooled fast reactor, uses liquid sodium, a kind of metal, to keep things cool. The “fast” part means it uses tiny particles moving really fast to make the reactions happen. This allows it to use its fuel really well and even makes more fuel as it operates.
Supercritical Water-cooled Reactor (SCWR)
An SCWR, or Supercritical Water-cooled Reactor, is a type of future nuclear power plant that uses supercritical water to cool down. It operates above the critical point of water, which means the water is neither a liquid nor a gas, but a unique state with its own properties. This makes it really efficient and safe.
Explore Further
Choose from the articles below to continue learning about nuclear.
Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor (GFR) – High-Efficiency, Next-Gen Nuclear Power
Nuclear Reactor Generations – A Story of Innovation and Improvement
Reactor Coolant – Controlling vast amounts of energy
Nuclear Fuel Cycle – Milling
Did you know? Explore Nuclear also offers great careers information and learning resources.
Below you can find references to the information and images used on this page.
Content References
- World Nuclear Association – Generation IV Nuclear Reactors
- The Generation IV International Forum – Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor (GFR)
- The Generation IV International Forum – Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor (LFR)
- The Generation IV International Forum – Molten Salt Reactors (MSR)
- The Generation IV International Forum – Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor (SFR)
- The Generation IV International Forum – Supercritical-Water-Cooled Reactor (SCWR)
- The Generation IV International Forum – Very-High-Temperature Reactor (VHTR)
- The Generation IV International Forum – Technology Systems
Image References
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory – HFIR Refueling – Licence CC BY 2.0
- Pexels – Plasma Ball – Free to Use
- Pexels – Safety – Free to Use
- Pexels – Sustainability – Free to Use
- Pexels – Efficiency Graph– Free to Use
- AGR fuel pin, about 1958-1982 – Science Museum Group – CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
- Pexels – Security Cameras– Free to Use
- Pexels – Planet Earth – Free to Use
- Pixabay – Earth Day – Public Domain
- Pexels – Gas Cloud / Dust – Free to Use
