ELSY
Project Summary

Europe has a large experience in the field of sodium-cooled fast reactors (e.g. SPX1) and has made a big effort in the Lead-Bismuth Eutectic (LBE) technology for use in the sub-critical reactors in both the past Euratom 5th Framework Programme (FP5) and the ongoing FP6.
The natural development is the use of pure lead since it is less expensive, less corrosive and of lesser radiological concern than LBE. Lead is chemically inert and has good neutronic characteristics that are unique among the coolants for a fast reactor.

The ELSY project aims to demonstrate that it is possible to design a competitive and safe fast critical reactor using simple engineered technical features. The high lead density has the advantage that, in the hypothetical case of a core disruption, it is unlikely to lead to core compaction scenarios which might cause the insertion of large amounts of reactivity in a short time.
The use of compact in-vessel steam generators and of a simple primary circuit with possibly all Internals being removable are among the reactor features for competitive electric energy generation and long-term investment protection.

Europe is taking an initiative to promote this ambitious project with participation of young engineers and scientists, who would learn from those engineers and scientists that are near to retirement with large experience in fast reactors design. Other international GEN IV Partners outside of Europe are also interested to participate in the design and development of a common large-scale lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR).

The management and technical activities of the ELSY project have been subdivided into six Work-Packages (WPs):

WP1:  

Design objectives, cost estimates, future R&D needs and compliance with the waste transmutation in a critical reactor and with the more general goals of GEN IV.

WP2:  

Core design and performance assessment.

WP3:  

Main components and systems.

WP4:  

System integration.

WP5:  

Safety and transient analysis.

WP6:  

Lead technology.