ABSTRACT
The gas-cooled fast reactor (GFR) is a fast neutron spectrum reactor that uses helium as the primary coolant. It is designed to operate at relatively high helium outlet temperatures, making it a good candidate for the high-efficiency production of electricity or hydrogen. A direct Brayton cycle is used for the production of electricity with the helium gas delivered from the reactor outlet to a high-temperature gas turbine connected to a generator that produces electricity. The technology base for the development of the GFR includes a number of past and current thermal–spectrum gas reactors and a limited number of fast-spectrum gas-cooled reactor designs. Compared with other advanced reactor concepts, the basis for initial development of the graphite-moderated helium-cooled very-high-temperature reactor with thermal neutron spectrum is quite compelling. The balance-of-plant design utilizes a relatively simple direct cycle power conversion system. The Chernobyl reactor was a light water-cooled graphite-moderated reactor.
