No. 110: Toshiba sees good prospect for the next-generation reactor (July 23, 2010)

Toshiba has established the technology on the safety of piping and special pump to conduct heat generated by the reactor and seen good prospect for the practical application of the next-generation reactor that allows for long-term continuous run. The piping and special pump is the equipment vital to the new reactor called 4S that will also be utilized in another new reactor that Toshiba develops in alliance with Bill Gates. The 4S has an output between 10,000-50,000 kW. It uses liquid sodium for coolant to make the reactor smaller and reduce maintenance load considerably, thus it allows for continuous run for about 30 years. Because sodium is hard to treat, the company developed safe solenoid pump and heat transfer pipe. The pipe can resist the temperature of 500 degrees of centigrade. Toshiba will start the verification experiment to put the technology into practical use in the second half of 2010.