ASSESSMENT OF TWO SMALL-SIZED INNOVATIVE NUCLEAR REACTORS FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATION IN BRAZIL USING INPRO METHODOLOGY

This paper presents the results of the assessment study of two small-sized innovative reactors for electricity generation in Brazil using the methodology developed under the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO), co-ordinated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). INPRO was initiated in 2001 and has the main objective of helping to ensure that nuclear energy is available to contribute in a sustainable manner to the energy needs of the 21st century. Brazil joined the project since its beginning and in 2005 submitted a proposal for the assessment using INPRO methodology of two small-sized reactors (IRIS and FBNR) as potential components of an innovative nuclear energy system (INS) completed by a conventional open nuclear fuel cycle. The assessment study was restricted to the reactor component of the INS and to the methodology areas of economics, proliferation resistance and reactor safety. The results indicate that both IRIS and FBNR innovative designs comply mostly with the basic principles of the areas assessed and have potential to comply with the remaining ones.