On Brazil’s participation in the international project on inovative nuclear reactors and fuel cycles (INPRO)

• Main Author: Gonçalves Filho, Orlando João Agostinho
• Publication Date: 2007
• Other Authors: Instituto de Engenharia Nuclear
• Format: Conference object
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositório Institucional do IEN
• Download full: http://carpedien.ien.gov.br:8080/handle/ien/2514
• topic: INAC 2007; INPRO; Nuclear technology; Innovative nuclear reactor systems

In response to a resolution of its 44th General Conference (GC(44)/RES/21) held in September 2000, the International Atomic Energy Agency launched in May 2001 the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuels Cycles (INPRO) with the objective of supporting the safe, sustainable, economic and proliferation-resistant use of nuclear technology to meet the global energy needs of the 21st century. Brazil joined the project from its beginnings and in 2005 submitted a proposal for the screening assessment using INPRO methodology of two small-size light-water reactors as potential components of an innovative nuclear reactor system (INS) completed with a conventional open nuclear fuel cycle. The INS reactor components currently being assessed are the International Reactor Innovative and Secure (IRIS) that is being developed by an international consortium made of 21 organizations from 10 countries (Brazil included) led by the Westinghouse Company, and the Fixed Bed Nuclear Reactor (FBNR) that is being developed at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. This paper gives an overview of Brazil’s participation in INPRO, highlighting the objective, scope and intermediate results of the assessment study being performed, and the possibilities for participation in one or two collaborative research projects under INPRO Phase 2 Action Plan for 2008-2009.