Eugeny Budylov, PhD in Technical Sciences, associate professor:

— Prospects of commercialization of the aforesaid technologies of fast neutron reactors depend on capacity of single power unit, demand of regions in power supply and availability of distribution networks. Extensiveness of Russia territory in general and Eastern regions in particular, with low population density in them do not need large single unit capacities.

Eugeny Budylov, PhD in Technical Sciences, associate professor:

— Indeed, looking for new energy technologies is reasoned by expectation of resources exhaustion for the existing ones in connection with permanently growing energy consumption, both due to increase of power availability of production, and due to population growth as well as increase of its demands in the area of energy consumption. From this point of view, fast neutron reactors have significant advantage as compared with thermal neutron reactors, since their resource from the point of view of fuel supply is many times more, since they are able to use not only urnium-235, but also uranium-238. Moreover, they generate several times more plutonium isotope which is also secondary nuclear fuel.

In FPP as basic technology of fast neutron reactors, technology of reactors with lead coolant was selected which will be developed in the framework of the first scenario of the program. And only with the purpose of risks reduction additionally in the framework of the second scenario, FPP will develop fast neutron reactors with sodium and lead-and-bismuth coolants.

In FPP schedules, certain reactor is defined on only one lead-and-bismuth technology SVBR-100. For this, funds both for R&D and for capital investments are provided. Certain reactors of two other technologies: lead – the most probable BREST-OD-300 with future serial BREST-1200, sodium – also most probable BN-1200. At that, for pilot and demonstration BREST, as well as for SVBR-100, money is assigned both for development and for construction, but for the most advanced sodium technology financing is provided only for R&D.

Prospects of commercialization of the aforesaid technologies of fast neutron reactors depend on capacity of single power unit, demand of regions in power supply and availability of distribution networks. Extensiveness of Russia territory in general and Eastern regions in particular, with low population density in them do not need large single unit capacities. In the framework of FPP only one technology is being developed on the regional level represented by reactor SVBR-100. Two others subject to the specified levels of serial power units capacity may be used mainly in the European part of the country, where high-voltage transmission lines are present. In this connection, demand in such power units will be limited to several pieces. Demand in low capacity power units is estimated as several tens.

I suppose that in connection with such peculiarities of Russia, it would be reasonable to select as basic fast neutrons reactors technology the one which would provide full plant cycle of production of main units of NPP, delivery thereof to destination point by railway transport, that is the most widespread in Russia, on site only constructions or covers should be built which provide protection and operation of the NPP.

For the first time in Russia, for full prefabrication project of power unit with fast neutron reactor with sodium coolant and gas turbine energy converter (AETS BN GT-300) was suggested. In conclusion of IBRAE RAS on this project it is noted that were are no fundamental engineering and technological restrictions for execution thereof. The suggested BN GT technology is represented as quite progressive that allows putting Russian nuclear machine building to industrial basis and starting of real serial production of equipment for NPPs. That is why and in connection with limitedness of resources in the framework of FPP, it is regarded as expedient to test this technology, having replaced, for instance, steam-turbine energy converter by gas-turbine one at BOR-60 reactor in project of BOR-60 reactor reconstruction or in the framework of MBIR project.

Promotion of BN GT technology in the framework of FPP boiled up not only due to its breakthrough qualities, but also because similar technology is being developed in France regarding power unit of 500 MW capacity (el.). And now, when the main principles of this technology are published in the patent, they became available to all developers.

Let us note that Federal target program «Nuclear power technologies of new generation for period of 2010 — 2015 years and for prospect till 2020» was confirmed by Government regulation of the RF in the beginning of February.