Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor (LFR)

The LFR is a fast reactor with a closed fuel cycle for the efficient conversion of fertile uranium and the management of actinides. It uses lead or leadbismuth eutectic liquid metal coolant. The main interest in this technology comes from the fact that lead has a high boiling point and is chemically inert, which leads to a low-pressure reactor with high safety. It has an excellent potential for innovation in heat transport, energy conversion and increased inherent safety. Russia has done extensive work in LFRs, but Japan and the U.S. have initiated design explorations. Two U.S. long-life, proliferation-resistant designs are noteworthy: (1) 50 MWe, lead-bismuth-cooled Encapsulated Nuclear Heat Source and (2) 10-100 MWe lead alloy-cooled Small Secure Transportable Autonomous Reactor.

Dr. Debu Majumdar (DOE-senior nuclear advisor, Idaho Operations Office), "Advanced reactors around the world", Nuclear Plant Journal, v21 n5, Sep/Oct 2003, p. 21