From High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors to Gas-Cooled Fast Breeder Reactors

The evolution of gas-cooled reactors is described and the advantages of helium as a reactor coolant stemming from its inertness and the fact that it is a single-phase coolant are discussed. The High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTGR) forms the basis for the current design of a Gas-Cooled Fast Breeder Reactor (GCFR). The extensive use of existing HTGR technology and the similarities between GCFR fuel requirements and those of the Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor (LMFBR) are emphasized. Basing the development on these other technologies minimizes the effort required for the GCFR.