Innovative design incorporates radical conceptual changes in design approaches or system configuration in comparison with existing practice and would, therefore, require substantial R&D, feasibility tests and a prototype or demonstration plant to be implemented. According to the classification currently used by the IAEA, small reactors are the reactors with an equivalent electric power less than 300 MW. The NuScale Power Module (NPM) is a small, light-water-cooled pressurized-water reactor (PWR). To approach the R&D activity in the field of SMR, one can use the knowledge and expertise held by researchers regarding large reactors CANDU PHWR. The paper synthetically presents a CANDU Nuclear Power Plant and a NuScale reactor and a short presentation of steam generators used for the two types of reactors. Also, the paper includes a description of the processes and structural materials for the CANDU steam generator and the identification of known processes or those for which intense research activity must be developed to fill the knowledge gaps for the NuScale steam generators. Finding the answers for these issues supposes inter and transdisciplinarity in engineering sciences and technologies. Only by working in research teams including chemists, physicists, engineers specializing in materials science, metallurgy, energy, electronics can be identified and put into practice the optimal solutions for the proper functioning of innovative reactors.
Among the six types of reactors of great importance for Generation IV, at European level, is the Lead Fast Reactor (LFR). The most challenging aspect of lead - based technology is the corrosive nature of this liquid metal that requires careful oxygen control and the use of structural materials with high corrosion resistance. The purpose of this paper is to present the structural materials of the main equipment from a LFR and to describe the processes related to their degradation. The paper contains experimental results obtained through the exposure of structural materials in the presence of liquid lead. After testing, the materials were analysed by visual examination, optical microscopy and microhardness determinations. The paper also presents new research directions to be approached in order to know in detail the processes that occur when the metallic materials come into contact with liquid lead.
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