Survey of power plant design approaches

The purpose of the following sections is to identify and discuss common and contrasting approaches used to meet the fundamental features of small reactors without on-site refuelling. 

Influence of targeted commercialization date on design choices 

Similarly, the near-term sodium cooled fast reactor concepts stick with well proven fuel/coolant/cladding combinations and heat transport components operating in the traditional temperature range as a way to enter the market relatively quickly. 

Alternatively, concepts having deployment target dates further out in time tend to push the technology envelope and employ more aggressive temperatures, new types of fuel and materials, new energy converters and less proven heat transport approaches, etc. The motivation is to reduce cost, and to take steps toward autonomous operation for reduced operating staff size and skill level. Many of these concepts assume the operation in a closed fuel cycle to ensure better fuel utilization and further minimization of environmental impacts. Further substantial R D will be required to achieve these gains. 

In light of the above, in the following discussions of common and contrasting features and design approaches, appropriate attention is given to distinctions between well established versus still paper design solutions. 

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