Objective
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.
Programme(s)
- EURATOM.1.1 - Improve and support nuclear safety, security, safeguards, radiation protection, safe spent fuel and radioactive waste management and decommissioning, including the safe and secure use of nuclear power and of non-power applications of ionizing radiation Main Programme
- EURATOM.1.1.1 - Nuclear safety
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
EURATOM-RIA - EURATOM Research and Innovation Actions
Coordinator
75015 Paris 15
France
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Participants (11)
75008 Paris 08
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00196 Roma
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92400 Courbevoie
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01328 Dresden
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1586 Riga
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76131 Karlsruhe
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54052 Nancy Cedex
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4000 Liege
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20133 Milano
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81243 Bratislava
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1049 Brussels
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Partners (4)
5232 Villigen Psi
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1015 Lausanne
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60637 Chicago Il
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CB2 1TN Cambridge
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