Liquid metal cooled reactor

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A Liquid metal cooled nuclear reactor is an advanced type of nuclear reactor where the primary coolant is a liquid molten metal. Liquid metal cooled reactors were first adapted for nuclear submarine use. The Soviet Alfa class submarine uses a lead cooled reactor.

The Soviet BN-600 and BN-350 nuclear power plants were sodium cooled. Liquid metal cooling is also used in most fast neutron reactors including fast breeder reactors.

Many Generation IV reactor studies are liquid metal cooled:

• Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor (SFR)
• Lead cooled fast reactor
• A variation is the molten salt reactor.

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