Bibliometric Review and Technical Summary of PWR Small Modular Reactors

Pablo Fernández-Arias (), Diego Vergara and Álvaro Antón-Sancho
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Pablo Fernández-Arias: Technology, Instruction and Design in Engineering and Education Research Group (TiDEE.rg), Catholic University of Ávila, 05005 Ávila, Spain
Diego Vergara: Technology, Instruction and Design in Engineering and Education Research Group (TiDEE.rg), Catholic University of Ávila, 05005 Ávila, Spain
Álvaro Antón-Sancho: Technology, Instruction and Design in Engineering and Education Research Group (TiDEE.rg), Catholic University of Ávila, 05005 Ávila, Spain

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-15

Abstract: Given the real problem of climate change and the consequent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nuclear energy can be considered a real technological option in the absence of a technology that can supply the population with sufficient electrical energy in a sustainable way. The research and development advances of new nuclear reactor designs are evident in the case of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology. Two goals are clear in such a technology: (i) reducing onsite construction costs and time; (ii) promoting economic efficiency through the mass production of nuclear reactors. In view of the interest generated by this technology, a technical summary of PWR-SMR design is included in this paper, utilizing the scientific method based on: (i) a bibliometric review of scientific publications related to SMRs; and (ii) a technical analysis of aspects of the different PWR-SMR designs. The results obtained in the present research show a growing interest on the part of the scientific community in research on PWR reactors integrated within SMR designs. Few countries are doing research in this area; however, those that are doing so have achieved greater technological advances in their designs, resulting in greater technological variety and a higher degree of maturity.

Keywords: nuclear energy; small modular reactors; energetic transition; technical evolution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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