Report to the Congress: liquid metal fast breeder reactor program--past, present, and future, Energy Research and Development Administration
The past, present, and future of the liquid metal fast breeder reactor (LMFBR) program, the Nation's highest priority energy program, are studied. ERDA anticipates that the operation of the first large commercial breeder will start in 1987, and that 186 commercial-size breeders will be in operation by the year 2000. The breeder program is made up of six major areas, each dealing with an important element of technology: reactor physics; fuels and materials; fuel recycle; safety; component development; plant experience; and facilities used in the LMFBR program. ERDA is implementing a new system for administering, managing, and controlling the breeder program that will provide increased program visibility and control. Federal funding for breeder development was $168 million in FY 1971, accounting for 40% of the total Federal R and D energy budget; in FY 1976 Federal funding for this program will be $474 million, only 26% of total Federal funding for energy research. Besides Federal funds, over half a billion dollars have been or will be invested by industry over the next 5 to 10 years to develop the breeder and to build a demonstration plant. Five other nations--the United Kingdom, France, Japan, West Germany, and the Soviet Union--have a high priority national energy program for developing the LMFBR. These foreign breeder programs could contribute important data and information to the U.S. program. (BYB)
- Research Organization:
- General Accounting Office, Washington, D.C. (USA); U.S. General Accounting Office, Washington, DC
- OSTI ID:
- 7290763
- Report Number(s):
- TID-27044; RED-75-352; TRN: 76-013147
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
BUDGETS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
US ERDA
ENERGY POLICY
FINANCING
FORECASTING
FRANCE
GERMAN FEDERAL REPUBLIC
JAPAN
UNITED KINGDOM
USSR
ASIA
BREEDER REACTORS
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
EUROPE
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
REACTORS
US ORGANIZATIONS
290600* - Energy Planning & Policy- Nuclear Energy
290500 - Energy Planning & Policy- Research
Development
Demonstration
& Commercialization
293000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
210500 - Power Reactors
Breeding