Safety of GFR through innovative materials, technologies and processes

Objectives

The global objective of the SafeG project is to further develop the GFR technology and strengthen its safety. The project shall support the development of nuclear low-CO2 electricity and industrial process heat generation technology through the following main objectives:

  1. To strengthen safety of the GFR demonstrator ALLEGRO through the use of innovative technologies, materials and system, based on unique know-how that has been built in this field both in and outside Europe over the last 20 years. The most important areas of ALLEGRO safety improvements, addressed by the SafeG project, are:
    • To solve remaining open questions in residual heat removal in accident conditions, leading to practical elimination of severe accidents, through innovative design of the reactor core, diversified ways of passive reactor shutdown, passive decay heat removal systems, and instrumentation.
    • To strengthen the inherent safety of the key reactor components by review of obsolete material and technology reference options, selection of innovative options, and designs based on these innovative options.
  2. To review the GFR reference options in materials and technologies, using experience gained within national research programs, know-how of the consortium and stakeholders, and experience from operation of various research facilities and high-temperature nuclear reactors. The aim is to increase the inherent safety of GFRs.
  3. To adapt GFR safety to changing needs in electricity production worldwide - with increased and decentralized portion of nuclear electricity, by study of various fuel cycles and their suitability from the safety and proliferation resistance points of view, so it will be deployable anywhere in the world, not only in already developed nuclear countries.
  4. To bring in students and young professionals, boosting interest in GFR research by wide involvement of universities, promotion of GFR-oriented topics of master theses and dissertations, organizing topical workshops including hands-on training, and on-job training connected with staff exchange between the members of the consortium.
  5. To deepen the collaboration with international non-EU research teams, and relevant European and international bodies (Generation IV International Forum, standardization bodies) and partners with experience/interest in GFR. Reconnection with partners with GFR research and development experience from the past.