Igor L. Pioro (2016) reported that Elsevier is presenting this new Handbook of Generation IV Nuclear Reactors, which has been written by nuclear engineering experts throughout the world. The need for this Handbook is based on the absence of any such comprehensive text, and has the following rationale. Currently, nuclear power plants (NPPs), with about 436 nuclear-power reactors, generate about 11.2% of electricity around the world, and demand for this essential and reliable energy source, free from greenhouse gases, is and will be growing. Interest in the use of nuclear energy for electricity generation is leading to new nuclear reactors being built in many countries: currently, 31 countries have operating nuclear power reactors, and 4 countries without reactors presently work on adding new builds.
The safe and efficient operation of the current fleet of NPPs is essential, as is their life extension for global sustainability and human well-being. These current generation reactors/NPPs, largely water-cooled, have and are serving the world well. The remaining challenges include advances in thermal efficiency, managing rare event safety, fuel cycle enhancements, improved economic competitiveness, ensuring that nuclear weapons proliferation concerns are addressed, and radioactive waste management with full public and political participation. These technical developments are against the global backdrop of concerns and issues over climate change, economic growth, sustainable and renewable energy use, optimal resource development, political stability, international security, and environmental conservation.
The future, therefore, also lies in the development of the next generation of nuclear energy: Generation IV nuclear power reactors and other advanced reactor concepts/ designs, which offer potential solutions to many of these problems, including advances in the use of risk-informed decision making and safety regulations. New reactor/ NPP designs and regulations will incorporate the latest developments and understanding in this important engineering/scientific discipline.
Therefore, to place the latest developments in context and elaborate the global technical and social issues, the Handbook consists of the following sections:
- Introduction, in which all industrial methods of electricity generation in the world are listed, with the emphasis on nuclear energy and its role in future electricity generation.
- This number includes 43 reactors from Japan from which only 3 currently in operation; however, more reactors are planned to put into operation soon.
- Part One, which is completely dedicated to six Generation IV concepts: (1) Gas-cooled Fast Reactor (GFR) or just High Temperature Reactor (HTR); (2) Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR); (3) Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR); (4) Lead-cooled Fast Reactor (LFR); (5) Molten Salt Reactor (MSR); and (6) Super Critical Water-cooled Reactor (SCWR); and which is started with the official information from the Generation IV International Forum (GIF).
- Part Two, which is a summary of Generation IV activities in the following countries: (1) USA; (2) European Union; (3) Japan; (4) Russia; (5) South Korea; (6) China; and (7) India.
- Part Three, which is dedicated to related topics for Generation IV reactors including: Safety of advanced reactors; non-proliferation for advanced reactors e political and social aspects; thermal aspects of conventional and alternative fuels; hydrogen co-generation with Generation IV NPPs; and advanced small modular reactors.
Technical Appendices, which provides readers with additional information and data on current nuclear power reactors and NPPs: thermophysical properties of reactor coolants, thermophysical properties of fluids at subcritical and critical/supercritical pressures, heat transfer and pressure drop in forced convection to fluids at supercritical pressures, world experience in nuclear steam reheat, etc.
Our editorial and author team consists of senior international experts in the corresponding nuclear engineering areas, which represents the following countries: (1) Canada; (2) China; (3) European Union; (4) France; (5) Germany; (6) India; (7) Japan; (8) Russia; (9) South Korea; (10) Ukraine; (11) United Kingdom; and (12) US. Members of the editorial team are from academia, industry including nuclear vendors and NPPs, international organizations, government research, and scientific establishments, etc.
We welcome you to the Handbook of Generation IV Nuclear Reactors, and we are looking forward to seeing your comments, suggestions, and criticism to improve our future editions. Also, please enjoy reading the chapters that follow. This unique international handbook edition combines history of development, research, industrial operating experience, new designs, systems and safety analysis, and applications of nuclear energy and many other related topics that help change the world and our lives for the best!
This Handbook is recommended for a wide range of specialists within the areas of nuclear engineering, power engineering, mechanical engineering, environmental studies, and for undergraduate and graduate students of the corresponding departments as a textbook.
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