Design Options for High Performance Light Water Reactors

Abstract

Light water reactors operating under supercritical pressure conditions have been selected as one of the promising future reactor concepts to be studied by the Generation IV International Forum. A first option considered in this context is a pressurized water reactor with 380°C core exit temperature, having a closed primary loop and achieving 2% pts. higher net efficiency and 24% higher specific turbine power than latest pressurized water reactors. A higher advantage can be gained from core exit temperatures around 500°C which require a multi step heat up process in the core with intermediate coolant mixing, but which achieve 44% net efficiency or more. The paper summarizes recent design approaches for such High Performance Light Water Reactors.