Fast breeder reactor

Fast breeder reactor (FBR) is a type of nuclear reactor that produces more fissile material than it consumes. These reactors are designed to extend the nuclear fuel supply for electric power generation. Fast breeder reactors have the potential to produce significant amounts of electricity and reduce the amount of nuclear waste.

History

The concept of fast breeder reactors was first proposed in the 1940s. The first experimental fast breeder reactor, EBR-I, was built in the United States in 1951. Since then, several countries, including France, Russia, and Japan, have developed and operated their own fast breeder reactors.

Design and Operation

Fast breeder reactors are designed to operate on the fast neutron spectrum, as opposed to thermal neutrons used in most nuclear reactors. This allows them to create more fissile material than they consume, hence the term "breeder".

The core of a fast breeder reactor is surrounded by a blanket of non-fissile material, typically uranium-238. When fast neutrons strike the blanket, they convert the uranium-238 into plutonium-239, a fissile material that can be used as fuel.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Fast breeder reactors have several advantages. They can generate more fuel than they consume, potentially providing a virtually unlimited supply of electricity. They can also reduce the amount of nuclear waste by consuming materials that would otherwise be waste.

However, there are also disadvantages. Fast breeder reactors are more complex and expensive to build and operate than other types of nuclear reactors. They also pose potential proliferation risks, as the plutonium-239 produced can be used to make nuclear weapons.

Future of Fast Breeder Reactors

Despite the challenges, several countries continue to invest in fast breeder reactor technology. Russia, in particular, has been operating a fast breeder reactor, the BN-800 reactor, for commercial power generation since 2016. Other countries, including India and China, are also developing their own fast breeder reactors.