The Future of Nuclear Energy: Key Chemical Aspects of Systems for Developing Generation III+, Generation IV, and Small Modular Reactors

Katarzyna Kiegiel, Dagmara Chmielewska-Śmietanko, Irena Herdzik-Koniecko, Agnieszka Miśkiewicz, Tomasz Smoliński, Marcin Rogowski, Albert Ntang, Nelson Kiprono Rotich, Krzysztof Madaj and Andrzej G. Chmielewski ()
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Katarzyna Kiegiel: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195 Warsaw, Poland
Dagmara Chmielewska-Śmietanko: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195 Warsaw, Poland
Irena Herdzik-Koniecko: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195 Warsaw, Poland
Agnieszka Miśkiewicz: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195 Warsaw, Poland
Tomasz Smoliński: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195 Warsaw, Poland
Marcin Rogowski: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195 Warsaw, Poland
Albert Ntang: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195 Warsaw, Poland
Nelson Kiprono Rotich: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195 Warsaw, Poland
Krzysztof Madaj: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195 Warsaw, Poland
Andrzej G. Chmielewski: Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195 Warsaw, Poland

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 3, 1-53

Abstract: Nuclear power plants have the lowest life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions intensity and produce more electricity with less land use compared to any other low-carbon-emission-based energy source. There is growing global interest in Generation IV reactors and, at the same time, there is great interest in using small modular reactors. However, the development of new reactors introduces new engineering and chemical challenges critical to advancing nuclear energy safety, efficiency, and sustainability. For Generation III+ reactors, water chemistry control is essential to mitigate corrosion processes and manage radiolysis in the reactor’s primary circuit. Generation IV reactors, such as molten salt reactors (MSRs), face the challenge of handling and processing chemically aggressive coolants. Small modular reactor (SMR) technologies will have to address several drawbacks before the technology can reach technology readiness level 9 (TRL9). Issues related to the management of irradiated graphite from high-temperature reactors (HTR) must be addressed. Additionally, spent fuel processing, along with the disposal and storage of radioactive waste, should be integral to the development of new reactors. This paper presents the key chemical and engineering aspects related to the development of next-generation nuclear reactors and SMRs along with the challenges associated with them.

Keywords: chemistry; nuclear energy; nuclear fuel cycle; next-generation nuclear reactors; small modular reactors; radioactive waste management (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: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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