Design and safety features of SALUS-100: A long fuel-cycled Sodium-cooled fast reactor

The paper introduces the innovative development of an SFR-based Small Modular Reactor (SMR) known as SALUS-100, with a 100 MWe electrical output, developed by KAERI. This innovative design, derived from the previous TRU transmutation burner SFR concept, represents a significant step forward in establishing a new model for SMRs and offers diverse applications, including on- and off -grid electricity generation, district heating, and industrial heat supply. The reactor features of SALUS-100 incorporate an integrated pool -type primary system configuration and a long fuel -cycle core concept with a metallic alloy nuclear fuel. Its design concept prioritizes preventing severe accidents by capitalizing on the inherent safety and reliability features achieved through emphasizing passive design characteristics. The paper describes the engineering design and safety analyses of SALUS-100, highlighting advanced design concepts in reactor core, fuel, materials, and systems. Additionally, the key research and development endeavors, focusing on vital areas such as enhancing system design capability, validating designs, demonstrating safety, and innovating in metal fuel technology, are briefly discussed, emphasizing the potential of SALUS-100 in revolutionizing the SMR market and utilizing efficient nuclear energy in the future.