Virtual special issue on Challenges and recent progress in liquid metal-cooled fast reactors

Liquid metal-cooled fast reactors (LMFRs), including lead or lead-bismuth-cooled fast reactors (LFRs) and sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs), have been chosen by the Generation IV International Forum as major next-generation reactors. The reasons for their selection include their improved safety, sustainability, efficiency, economy and proliferation resistance. LMFRs offer the possibility of burning actinides to further reduce waste and can generate more fuel than they consume. However, while LMFRs have attracted much attention throughout the world, they also face some challenges, such as positive void coefficient intrusion in a possible accident, the potential for corrosion of the reactor internals (LFRs), and sodium fires when contact is made with air (SFRs). Therefore, understanding the fundamentals and physical phenomena is crucial for new-type reactor design and operation optimisation.

This special issue will demonstrate the latest cutting-edge developments in LMFRs. We welcome novel insights and studies in the form of research articles, short communications and review articles. We particularly encourage submissions on thermal hydraulics, nuclear fuel/material performance, severe accident analysis, as well as neutronics, nuclear waste management and fuel cycle analysis. 

Topics covered:

This special issue will focus on all aspects of experimental, numerical and theoretical approaches for a deeper understanding of LMFRs, including, but not limited to:

• Thermal hydraulics, severe accident analysis, multi-phase flow and heat/mass transfer, and corrosion studies associated with LMFRs
• Experimental and computational studies on LMFRfuels and materials, including the potential use of accident-tolerant fuels in LMFRs and thermophysical properties of liquid metal
• Neutronics, reactor systems, waste management and fuel cycle analysis for LMFRs
• Accelerator-driven subcritical reactors
• Experimental/research/test fast reactors and fast neutron reactors

Important deadlines:

• Submission deadline: 30 September 2023 

Submission instructions:

Please read the Guide for Authors before submitting. All articles should be submitted online; please select VSI: Challenges and recent progress in liquid metal-cooled fast reactors on submission.

Guest Editors: