Micro nuclear reactors adopt Generation-IV non-light water reactors, heat pipe reactors and Generation-III light water reactors with high inherent safety, providing long-term and highly reliable power supply for innovative scenario such as remote islands, mining areas, border guard posts and bases, emergency and disaster relief, space exploration and deep-sea exploration. They have broad application prospects, being one of the important technical supports to realize the national strategy. This study summarizes the definition and main R & D reactor types of micro nuclear reactors, and describes the innovative technological characteristics of micro nuclear reactors, such as high inherent safety, easy modularization and expansion, transportability, easy deployment, independent operation and so on, analyzes the development trend of key technologies such as new fuel, integration of main loop, new thermoelectric conversion device, passive safety system, intelligent operation and maintenance and coupling of nuclear energy and other energy sources in China, providing support for the formulation of the technical route for the development of micro nuclear reactors in China. © 2022 Yuan Zi Neng Chuban She. All rights reserved.
