Progress on PRISM, an advanced liquid metal reactor power plant concept for the future

The US program for development of an advanced liquid metal reactor (ALMR) is discussed. The PRISM reactor concept originated by General Electric, in conjunction with the metal fuel cycle under development by Argonne National Laboratory, has been selected as the reference concept for the ALMR. The design emphasizes passive safety features, modular construction, factory fabrication, capability (when needed) to breed substantially more fissionable material than it consumes, recycle and burning of actinides to reduce the storage time requirements for long-life, high-level radioactive wastes, and testing of a full-size reactor prototype for design certification and licensing. The plant design is described, and shutdown heat removal, reactivity control and shutdown, fuel cycle and waste management, and economics are discussed