European Sodium Fast Reactor - Safety by Innovative Monitoring, Power Level flexibility and Experimental research

Informations projet

ESFR-SIMPLE

N° de convention de subvention: 101059543

Date de signature de la CE 23 Mai 2022

Date de début 1 Octobre 2022

Date de fin 30 Septembre 2026

Financé au titre de

• Euratom Research and Training Programme (EURATOM)

Coût total

€ 6 506 233,75

Contribution de l’UE

€ 3 046 560,50

Coordonné par

COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
France

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ESFR-SIMPLE (European Sodium Fast Reactor - Safety by Innovative Monitoring, Power Level flexibility and Experimental research)

Période du rapport: 2022-10-01 au 2024-03-31

Résumé du contexte et des objectifs généraux du projet

The 3600 MWth European Sodium Fast Reactor (ESFR) concept has been developed for more than 10 years by 25 countries in European projects. In this context, ESFR has already closely approached the GIF goals. This new European project is proposed in line with the ESNII roadmap guidelines and with the aim of best meeting GIF objectives through focused innovation and advanced technologies.
More specifically, most of the Gen IV NPPs are designed to deliver high power, whereas the needs of some countries in Europe tend to be lower power. The ESFR-SIMPLE project aims at challenging the GenIV ESFR and will develop a novel Small Moduar Reactor (SMR) version of the ESFR. This new concept (ESFR-SMR) will feature enhanced safety level, will lead to substancial simplification and consequently to potential cost savings, will maintain its mission of safe operating in closed fuel cycle and will provide an option for a flexible integration into electrical grid. At the same time, experimental data will be produced to support innovative technologies for innovative SFRs.
To reduce the lack of relation and bilateral communication between nuclear communities and citizens, the ESFR-SIMPLE project will establish a meaningful dialog between general public and the project experts in parallel to the design phase.

Travail effectué depuis le début du projet jusqu’à la fin de la période considérée dans le rapport et principaux résultats atteints jusqu’à présent

Monitoring: an initial review of the state of the art confirmed that identification and characterization of bubbles by AI approaches have been implemented in diverse contexts. At the same time, experimental data have been produced with the CIBD system and transferred to AI experts.
Fuel element: definition of the benchmark exercise has been done for steady-state and transient cases. The analysis has been done on the steady-state results. At the same time, porous fuel pellets have been fabricated and will be sent for measurements from CEA Marcoule to JRC Karlsruhe.
Safety: as far as it concerns the TESP, the design of pumps has been done, the experiment part is under preparation. Regarding core-catcher activities, the proposal on the different tests in LIVE-CCH was done and the instrumentation realized; the PhD started its activities on the HANSOLO facility. At the same time, the design of sodium expansion bellows and of the experimental platform is ongoing (industrial and mock-up).
Flexibility: a first design of the ESFR-SMR core has been done, based on preliminary system design assumptions. A more precise system design is ongoing. At the same time, specific needs in terms of flexibility have been evaluated and secondary loops are under design.
Metallic fuel core: the design of the pins, assembly and core have been performed; fuel performance safety analysis are ongoing.

Progrès au-delà de l’état des connaissances et impact potentiel prévu (y compris l’impact socio-économique et les conséquences sociétales plus larges du projet jusqu’à présent)

Monitoring: the CIBD method has been developed, tested, used to generate preliminary experimental data but has to be validated. The advantage of such a method, coupled to others via AI will be highlighted in the next phases.
Fuel element: porous fuel pellets have been fabricated between 70% and 95% of theoretical density, despite the brittleness of the disks with the lowest densities. The next phases of modelling and characterization could allow a step forward in the modelling of irradiated fuel properties.
Safety: no specific results have been obtained until now, but design phases are encouraging and led us optimistic before the experimental part.
Flexibility: the first design of the ESFR-SMR is promising regarding performance and safety issues with an achieved power of almost 400 MWth. The global design of the system is however necessary to conclude on its global performance.
Metallic fuel core: the design has been done, but no comparative results are actually available in terms of safety or performance. More analysis are foreseen in the next phases of the project.

Project Meeting in Milano, Italy, 2023

Project Meeting in Milano, Italy, 2023