Generation IV nuclear reactors are designed to be safe, economical and to produce minimal radioactive waste material. The present book reviews the various categories of Generation IV reactors and their applications, providing an overview of the physics of nuclear power reactors and describing the technology behind each of the six Generation IV designs. It describes past progress in each of these technologies and summarizes current research and development activities. It gives an evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of each design and summarizes the ways in which each satisfies the criteria specified by the Generation IV International Forum. This book provides an overview of the environmental aspects of nuclear power, an introduction to the physics of fission reactors and a summary of the drawbacks of current reactor designs.

Key Features

• Provides an overview of how nuclear fission power can contribute to future low-carbon energy sources
• Discusses the environmental aspects of nuclear power, the physics of fission reactors and the drawbacks of current reactor designs
• Provides a detailed technical description of potential Generation IV fission reactors
• Analyses how each Generation IV reactor design deals with current reactor drawbacks
• Reviews previous work and current status of each Generation IV reactor design
• Considers the possibility and timescale for commercial development of each design