Reactors developed so far are categorized into 3 generations, with the fourth generation defined as a next generation reactor set for commercialization in 2030.
Major Safety Goals of APR1400
- Gen. I : Refers to the early prototype of power reactor in the 1950s and 1960s (Shippingport, Magnox, Fermi 1, Dresden)
- Gen. II : Refers to the class of commercial reactors built up to the end of the 1990s (LWR-PWR, BWR, CANDU, VVER, RBMK)
- Gen III : Commissioned from the late 1990s to 2010s : improved in terms of economics and safety from Gen II reactors (ABWR, System 80+, AP600, EPR, APR1400)
- Major features of Gen Ⅲ Reactors
- A standardised design for each type to expedite licensing, reduce capital cost and reduce construction time
- A simpler and more rugged design, making them easier to operate and less vulnerable to operational upsets
- Higher availability and longer operating life - typically 60 years
- Further reduced possibility of core melt accidents
- 72-hour grace period, so that following shutdown the plant requires no active intervention for 72 hours
- Resistance to serious damage that would allow radiological release from an aircraft impact
- Higher burn-up to reduce fuel use and the amount of waste
- Greater use of burnable absorbers ("poisons") to extend fuel life
- Gen III+ : Improved in terms of economics from Gen III reactors; to be adopted from 2010s to 2030s
- Gen IV : Innovative reactor targeted for commercialization in 2030 and having enhanced economics, a higher level safety, minimized radioactive waste and proliferation resistance
- GEN -Ⅳ Technoligy Roadmap (US DOE, 2002)
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- GenerationⅠEarly Prototype Reactors19501960
- Shippingport
- Dresden, FermiⅠ
- Magnox
- GenerationⅡCommercial Power Reactor197019801990
- LWR-PWR, BWR
- CANDU
- VVER/RBMK
- AGR
- GenerationⅢAdvanced LWRs2000
- ABWR
- System 80+
- AP600
- EPR
- GenerationⅢ+Near Term Deployment201020202030
- Evolutionary
- Designs Offering
- Improved
- Economics
- GenerationⅣ
- Highly Economical
- Enhanced Safety
- Minimal Waste
- Proliferation Resistant
- GenerationⅠEarly Prototype Reactors19501960