Small Modular Reactors: An Overview of Modeling, Control, Simulation, and Applications

Abstract

A small modular reactor (SMR) is a nuclear reactor that is characterized by its smaller size and capacity when compared to traditional large-scale nuclear reactors. An SMR is often categorized as having an electrical output of less than 300MW and is built to be more mobile, safe, and extensible to deploy. It has been established that SMRs can provide economic and flexibility advantages in a variety of industries thanks to the development, study, and use of multiple types of SMRs in recent years. The goal of this paper is to present a comprehensive overview of several SMR types, including light water reactors (LWRs), liquid metal-cooled reactors (LMRs), molten salt reactors (MSRs), and gas-cooled reactors (GCRs). Each type of reactor is reviewed in terms of its structural design, modeling control implementation, applications, and impacts concerning the power system.