Grant: NSERC/NRCan/AECL Generation IV Energy Technologies Program

Concepts of SuperCritical Water-cooled nuclear Reactors (SCWRs) were studied as early as the end of 1950s in USA and Russia. After a 30-year break, the idea of developing SCWRs became attractive again as the ultimate development path for water cooling. The main objectives of using SCWRs are: 1) To increase the thermal efficiency of modern Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) from 30 - 35% to 45 - 48%, 2) To decrease capital and operational costs and hence decrease electrical energy costs (~$1000 US/kW or even less); and 3) To co-generate hydrogen. SCW NPPs will have much higher operating parameters compared to modern NPPs (pressure of 25 MPa and outlet temperature up to 625°C), and a simplified flow circuit. Reactor operation at such conditions requires new fuel-channel design options. Currently, only one design option has been proposed so far - a SCW fuel channel with a ceramic insert. However, such a fuel-channel design option has not been proven as a viable option. Therefore, some alternative (back-up) options for SCWR fuel channels are definitely needed. Also, achieving higher thermal efficiency requires an addition of steam reheat and corresponding to that an addition of nuclear steam-reheat channels, which might be of different design compared to SCW fuel channels. Therefore, developing alternative fuel-channel design options for SCW circuit and subcritical superheated steam fuel channels will help to design reliable and efficient SCWRs and finally, to achieve the desired higher thermal efficiencies of SCW NPPs. Primary target recipients are AECL, NRCan, and other Canadian universities / companies / organizations participating in the National Generation-IV program. Also, project information will be useful for other universities / companies / organizations worldwide, which participate in the Generation-IV program.