Dr. Fausto Franceschini
Consulting Engineer
Westinghouse Electric Company

Abstract

The Westinghouse Lead-cooled Fast Reactor (LFR) is a Generation IV, compact, highly simplified, passively safe, standardized, scalable reactor plant.  It is a lead-cooled, pool-type fast reactor targeting operation by 2030 for a ≤300 MWe prototype that will demonstrate basic feasibility during an initial phase of operation (Phase I). In Phase II the same technology will be used to develop a ~450 MWe first-of-a-kind plant representative of the commercial fleet, operating at higher temperature and with a higher performance fuel system relative to the Phase I reactor. Economics, safety and scalability are the key elements driving its design. Westinghouse selected LFR technology after a careful evaluation of a significant number of nuclear technologies, which led to the identification of the LFR as the design with the greatest potential for superior economic competitiveness, increased public support and higher technology versatility for the future, and diverse markets.  This seminar will describe the genesis of the Westinghouse LFR, they key advantages and a general overview of the design and some economics and market considerations.