Descrizione del progetto
Alzare l’asticella della sicurezza dei reattori nucleari
L’energia nucleare è un’alternativa a basse emissioni di carbonio ai combustibili fossili. Come tale, può svolgere un ruolo determinante nella transizione verso la neutralità climatica, un fattore essenziale per raggiungere i traguardi del Green Deal europeo. Tuttavia, sarà possibile integrare i futuri reattori nucleari nel sistema energetico europeo solo quando ne saranno dimostrate la sicurezza e la capacità di soddisfare esigenze sociali. Ed è qui che entra in scena il progetto ESFR-SIMPLE, finanziato dall’UE. Il suo obiettivo è migliorare la sicurezza del modello e l’aspetto economico dell’attuale reattore veloce raffreddato a sodio europeo mediante tecnologie innovative. Ciò avverrà in linea con la tabella di marcia dell’iniziativa industriale europea per il nucleare sostenibile.
Obiettivo
To facilitate the integration of the future nuclear reactors into the European energy system, it is necessary to demonstrate that the reactors have uncompromised safety and meet the future societal needs. The ESFR-SIMPLE project aims at challenging the current European Sodium Fast Reactor (ESFR) design to improve its safety and economics through implementation of innovative technologies in accordance with the ESNII roadmap. The project has 5 specific objectives:
1) Rethink the ESFR design in order to simplify it and make it more cost-competitive, while still achieving resource sustainability and having safety reinforced by intrinsic behaviour. This can be accomplished through reducing the size of the reactor, which will also allow taking advantage of Small Modular Reactor features such as transportability, modularisation, standardisation, and flexible operation, all ultimately leading to improved economics.
2) Assess impact of alternative technologies, such as metallic fuel and compact secondary system design, for the large-size ESFR on the economics and safety.
3) Propose, develop and assess advanced methods of monitoring and processing operational data using Artificial Intelligence, e.g. to optimise fault detection in steam generators at an early stage.
4) Produce new experimental data in order to assist in qualification of innovative components, such as expansion bellows, core catcher and thermo-electric pumps.
5) Ensure that the knowledge generated in the project is shared not only among the project partner institutions, but also with a wide range of stakeholders in Europe and internationally. The project activities will also be informed by the public and other stakeholders’ perception of risks and benefits of ESFR technology.
Close interactions with EU safety regulator experts will enable continued review and recommendation of the solutions proposed and developed in the project.
Campo scientifico
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligence
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryalkali metals
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomics
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesnuclear engineering
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuels
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
EURATOM-RIA - EURATOM Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinatore
75015 PARIS 15
Francia