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Lead-cooled fast reactor
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<p>The lead-cooled fast reactor is a <a href="/facts/Nuclear_reactor/8xqjIbge">nuclear reactor</a> design that uses molten <a href="/facts/Lead/EYljasJN">lead</a> or <a href="/facts/Lead-bismuth_eutectic/IdUVo5nq">lead-bismuth eutectic</a> <a href="/facts/Nuclear_reactor_coolant/7m7FX3Sn">coolant</a>. These materials can be used as the primary coolant because they have low <a href="/facts/Neutron_absorption/elsFpM12">neutron absorption</a> and relatively low <a href="/facts/Melting_point/MY0w0h0k">melting points</a>. <a href="/facts/Neutron/oRCM1geb">Neutrons</a> are slowed less by interaction with these heavy nuclei (thus not being <a href="/facts/Neutron_moderator/1qa6YvDD">neutron moderators</a>) so these reactors operate with <a href="/facts/Fast_neutron/UMKR4XgJ">fast neutrons</a>. </p><p>The concept is generally similar to <a href="/facts/Sodium-cooled_fast_reactor/4F7zMYRJ">sodium-cooled fast reactors</a>, and most liquid-metal fast reactors have used sodium instead of lead. Few lead-cooled reactors have been constructed, except for the <a href="/facts/Soviet_submarine_K-27/xP9eA95A">Soviet submarine K-27</a> and all 7 of the Soviet <a href="/facts/Alfa-class_submarine/vegaytH4">Alfa-class submarines</a> (though these were <a href="/facts/Beryllium/dv295voP">beryllium</a>-moderated intermediate energy reactors rather than fast reactors). However, a number of proposed and one in construction new nuclear reactor designs are lead-cooled. </p><p>Fuel designs being explored for this reactor scheme include <a href="/facts/Fertile_material/Gt9u52G8">fertile uranium</a> as a metal, metal <a href="/facts/Oxide/DXtoVe1C">oxide</a> or metal <a href="/facts/Nitride/9vkrCbJ4">nitride</a>. </p><p>The lead-cooled reactor design has been proposed as a <a href="/facts/Generation_IV_reactor/ywkkrQ5P">generation IV reactor</a>. Plans for future implementation of this type of reactor include modular arrangements rated at 300 to 400 MWe, and a large monolithic plant rated at 1,200 MWe. </p>