Back المفاعلات النووية الجيل الرابع Arabic Reactor de IV generació Catalan Reaktor IV. generace Czech Reactor nuclear de IV generación Spanish رآکتور نسل ۴ Persian Nuklearni reaktori IV. generacije Croatian Reattore nucleare di IV generazione Italian 第4世代原子炉 Japanese 4세대 원자로 Korean Vierde generatie kernreactoren Dutch
Generation IV (Gen IV) reactors are nuclear reactor design technologies that are envisioned as successors of generation III reactors. The Generation IV International Forum (GIF) – an international organization that coordinates the development of generation IV reactors – specifically selected six reactor technologies as candidates for generation IV reactors.[1][2] The designs target improved safety, sustainability, efficiency, and cost. The World Nuclear Association in 2015 suggested that some might enter commercial operation before 2030.[3]
No precise definition of a Generation IV reactor exists. The term refers to nuclear reactor technologies under development as of approximately 2000, and whose designs were intended to represent 'the future shape of nuclear energy', at least at that time.[4] The six designs selected were: the gas-cooled fast reactor (GFR), the lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR), the molten salt reactor (MSR), the sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR), the supercritical-water-cooled reactor (SCWR) and the very high-temperature reactor (VHTR). [1][2]
The sodium fast reactor has received the greatest share of funding that supports demonstration facilities. Moir and Teller consider the molten-salt reactor, a less developed technology, as potentially having the greatest inherent safety of the six models.[5][6] The very-high-temperature reactor designs operate at much higher temperatures than prior generations. This allows for high temperature electrolysis or for sulfur–iodine cycle for the efficient production of hydrogen and the synthesis of carbon-neutral fuels.[2]
The majority of reactors in operation around the world are considered second generation and third generation reactor systems, as the majority of the first generation systems have been retired. China was the first country to operate a demonstration generation-IV reactor, the HTR-PM in Shidaowan, Shandong,[7][8] which is a pebble-bed type high-temperature gas-cooled reactor. It was connected to the grid in December 2023, making it the world's first Gen IV reactor to enter commercial operation.[9][10][11] In 2024, it was reported that China would also build the world’s first thorium molten salt nuclear power station, scheduled to be operational by 2029.[12]
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
gif-welcomewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
Locatelliwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
gen-iv_wna-2020was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Generation IV Nuclear Reactors: WNA - World Nuclear Association". world-nuclear.org.
- ^ Moir, Ralph; Teller, Edward (2005). "Thorium-Fueled Underground Power Plant Based on Molten Salt Technology". Nuclear Technology. 151 (3): 334–340. Bibcode:2005NucTe.151..334M. doi:10.13182/NT05-A3655. S2CID 36982574. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
- ^ De Clercq, Geert (October 13, 2014). "Can Sodium Save Nuclear Power?". Scientific American.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
HTR-PM-1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
HTR-PM-2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Howe, Colleen (December 6, 2023). "China starts up world's first fourth-generation nuclear reactor". Reuters.
- ^ "China's demonstration HTR-PM enters commercial operation". World Nuclear News. December 6, 2023.
- ^ "The world's first HTR-PM starts commercial operation". en.cnnc.com.cn. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
- ^ "China sets launch date for world's first thorium molten salt nuclear power plant". 26 July 2024.