Publikationsrepositorium - Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf

The reasons for the renewed interest in fast reactors and an overview of the progress in sodium cooled fast reactor operation and design in the last ten years is given. The relevance of feedback effects for safe reactor design is described, and a new method for the enhancement of feedback effects in fast reactors is proposed. The excellent operational performance of sodium cooled fast reactors in this period is highlighted as a sound basis for the development of new fast reactors. Experimental reactors demonstrating the inherent safety of advanced sodium cooled fast reactor designs are described and the potential safety improvements resulting from the use of fine distributed moderating material are demonstrated. Finally, the fast reactor specifics are analysed with regard to the Fukushima accident.