Licensing Small Modular Reactor in the UK

This project will primarily be based at: The University of Leeds

Summary

The UK Government is promoting the deployment of a new class of nuclear reactor called Small Modular Reactors (SMRs1 defined as: “newer generation reactors designed to generate electric power up to 300 MW, whose components and systems can be shop fabricated and then transported as modules to the sites for installation as demand arises”. SMRs have a strong techno-economic potential, but the exiting traditional licensing process to assess their nuclear safety is considered a critical barrier preventing private investment in this technology. This is also because the traditional licensing process has been designed and operated on a very diffident class of nuclear reactor. This research project focuses on the barriers introduced by the licensing process and on the possible solution to promote the deployment of SMRs without compromising safety. This research project will focus on light water SMRs and in the licensing process in the UK.

The successful applicant will be part of the GREEN CDT and will be based in the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Leeds.

About GREEN

The GREEN Centre for Doctoral Training (GREEN CDT) is a a consortium of five universities: The University of Manchester, Lancaster University, The University of Leeds, The University of Liverpool and The University of Sheffield, which aims to train the next generation of expert nuclear scientists and engineers.

Students within the GREEN CDT are invited to undertake a four-year PhD programme. Students will attend taught courses (Year 1) in various subject of nuclear technology followed by subject specific training (Year 1) leading to research activities (Year 2-Year 4).