Industrial aspects of revisited HTRs Original Research Article

The ‘new’ High Temperature Reactors (HTRs) are based on the direct gas turbine cycle which brings high inherent safety together with high efficiency. This combination makes them attractive cost-wise for countries with small and medium size grids that cannot afford larger units. For others, their fuel flexibility gives them extra attraction as burners of Plutonium (from weapons or LWR reprocessing) or to decrease minor actinide build-up by use of thorium. Extrapolation of existing technologies, mostly materials, are needed to bring the concept to life. The EU framework programme and collaboration with the Japanese and Chinese developments should help realise this wish. Two industrial groupings have launched the PBMR and GT-MHR concepts. Promotion of such forward looking concepts will also help attract talented young people to nuclear industry.