Plentiful Energy: The Story of the Integral Fast Reactor: The complex history of a simple reactor technology, with emphasis on its scientific bases for non-specialists

by Charles E. Till

The Integral Fast Reactor (IFR) is a fast reactor system developed at Argonne National Laboratory in the decade 1984 to 1994. The IFR project developed the technology for a complete system; the reactor, the entire fuel cycle and the waste management technologies were all included in the development program. The reactor concept had important features and characteristics that were completely new and fuel cycle and waste management technologies that were entirely new developments. The reactor is a “fast” reactor – that is, the chain reaction is maintained by “fast” neutrons with high energy – which produces its own fuel. The IFR reactor and associated fuel cycle is a closed system. Electrical power is generated, new fissile fuel is produced to replace the fuel burned, its used fuel is processed for recycling by pyroprocessing – a new development – and waste is put in final form for disposal. All this is done on one self-sufficient site.The scale and duration of the project and its funding made it the largest nuclear energy R and D program of its day. Its purpose was the development of a long term massive new energy source, capable of meeting the nation’s electrical energy needs in any amount, and for as long as it is needed, forever, if necessary. Safety, non-proliferation and waste toxicity properties were improved as well, these three the characteristics most commonly cited in opposition to nuclear power.Development proceeded from success to success. Most of the development had been done when the program was abruptly cancelled by the newly elected Clinton Administration. In his 1994 State of the Union address the president stated that “unnecessary programs in advanced reactor development will be terminated.” The IFR was that program.This book gives the real story of the IFR, written by the two nuclear scientists who were most deeply involved in its conception, the development of its R and D program, and its management.Between the scientific and engineering papers and reports, and books on the IFR, and the non-technical and often impassioned dialogue that continues to this day on fast reactor technology, we felt there is room for a volume that, while accurate technically, is written in a manner accessible to the non-specialist and even to the non-technical reader who simply wants to know what this technology is.

Genres: Science

404 pages, Paperback

First published December 6, 2011

Reviews

[Paul Quick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Convinced me that small Integral fast Reactors are part of the solution to the energy crisis. Andrew Yang is right !

[Yulin Zhuang · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an odd combination of memoir, position paper, and technical exposition.

The authors draw from their experience working on the Integral Fast Reactor to address the possibilities of the technology. The argument is quite convincing, though I'm sure there are easier summations available elsewhere.

The anti-nuclear lobby and environmentalism make for quite odd bedfellows. Given the enormous damage that fossil fuel burning is causing right now, environmentalists are in direct opposition to the only energy form that could possibly replace it in the next 50 years. No other technology holds the potential yet.

The book is a very lucid explanation of the history, advantages, disadvantages, and technical/political challenges facing the adoption of this particular form of nuclear power. However, the book can get extremely technical, so it's definitely not light reading for someone just coming to the subject of nuclear power.

[Jani-Petri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good and detailed account of the history and technology behind integral fast reactor. Sometimes the book is probably not accessible to a layman since authors assume that readers know something about fundamentals of nuclear energy. Even I couldn't follow some of the discussion about electrorefining since I didn't have strong enough background in chemistry. Discussion about proliferation was very good. I thought that when authors promoted IFR as better than LWR because it will be easier to license waste disposal according to EPA and NRC regulations, they were not talking about the real issue, namely the inconsistency and counterproductiveness of the regulations. Fossil fuels plants are continually releasing far more radionuclides than the Nrc regulations for spent nuclear fuel over tens of thousands of years. Why the difference?

[Jon-Erik · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't keep going. A bunch of bureaucratic history (and whining) that makes the volume impenetrable in places. I'd rather read about the technology and how it applies. Moving on.