Current status of high-temperature engineering research in France

CEA and FRAMATOME ANP researches in the field of high-temperature engineering mainly support high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGCRs or HTRs) technology development. These researches are for the short term directly connected to the support of the FRAMATOME ANP for the industrial development of small or medium sized thermal HTRs with direct cycle and the necessary recovery at a national level of expertise on some associated crucial technological issues. For the longer term, the CEA's main R&D effort is directed toward the study of technologies in support of HTGCRs with hardened neutron spectra, refractory fuel possibly compliant with on-site reprocessing. This appears to be a very promising candidate for future generations of nuclear systems, particularly with regard to the goals of high efficiency, saving of resources, minimisation of long-lived waste production and potential for applications other than electricity production (hydrogen, desalination, etc.). The corresponding programmes concerning high-temperature engineering are reviewed in this paper.