Nuclear Power Plants & Small Modular Reactors

In this paper, the types of large nuclear reactors and the technology used in the construction of small-scale nuclear reactors have been studied. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) have been introduced as a type of small-scale nuclear reactors and its different types in the form of five groups of light water reactors (LWRs), heavy water reactors (HWRs), fast neutron reactors (FNRs), molten salt reactors (MSRs) and graphite-modified high temperature reactors (GmHTRs). Technical specifications of some of the most common of SMRs such as NuScale, mPower, PRISM and VBER-300 modules in unit formation are also presented. The nuclear fuel, unique characteristics and advantages of small modular reactors in terms of efficiency, flexibility and economics compared to large commercial reactors were analyzed. It was found that the small volume and special design of the reactor core structure, the passive super-intelligent safety system of each module, the cooling system, the easy portability, the impossibility of some severe accidents in the reactor and other ancillary applications of the SMRs, like their ability to produce hydrogen, have identified them as the best candidates to play a key role in producing clean energy. Finally, considering the global acceptance of small modular reactors, as well as to develop of nuclear power plants to provide electricity, it is necessary to use the potential and actual capacity of specialists and senior engineers of Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarter to break the monopoly to build SMRs.