Comprehensive Comparison and Analysis for Fast Reactors

Abstract Fast reactor is the main reactor type of the fourth generation reactors. It has the advantages of good fuel breeding characteristics, strong transmutation ability, high thermal efficiency and good safety. The research of fast reactor is the focus of current advanced reactor. According to the characteristics of fast reactors, the differences between fast reactors and pressurized water reactors in the fuel breeding, transmutation and safety are analyzed in this paper. On this basis, the characteristics of sodium-cooled fast reactors, lead and lead-bismuth eutectic cooled fast reactors and gas-cooled fast reactors are analyzed and their feature differences are compared. According to the basic characteristics of reactor physics, thermal-hydraulics and safety, the characteristics of these fast reactors are analyzed and compared, their respective advantages are given, the technical problems and difficulties are pointed out. The advantages and suitable application fields of these fast reactors are illustrated, the development opportunities and technical challenges are discussed. Some analysis results can provide reference for the research, design and application of advanced nuclear reactors.