Development of Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor Technologies at ENEA Brasimone Research Center

In the framework of the Generation IV (GEN IV) innovative nuclear system, the ENEA Brasimone Research Center (R.C.) is at the forefront of developing Lead-cooled Fast Reactors (LFRs), one of the most promising Generation IV International Forum (GIF) concepts. ENEA's involvement in several European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) projects focuses on advancing Heavy Liquid Metal (HLM) technology, materials investigations, modeling, simulations, and licensing for LFRs. Since 2013, ENEA has been a full member of the Fostering ALfred CONstruction (FALCON) international consortium, partnering with Ansaldo Nucleare and RATEN-ICN to construct and operate the Advanced Lead-cooled Fast Reactor European Demonstrator (ALFRED) in Romania. This project aims to fully demonstrate LFR technology viability and expedite its market readiness. Furthermore, in 2022, ENEA and newcleo signed an agreement to develop and deploy LFRs, including constructing an electrical prototype of the newcleo LFR-AS-30, named PRECURSOR, at the ENEA Brasimone site. This prototype will facilitate studies on the thermodynamic, mechanical, and functional performance of the newcleo concept. The ENEA Brasimone Research Center hosts one of Europe's largest fleets of experimental facilities for investigating HLM thermal-hydraulics, coolant chemistry control, corrosion behavior, and material properties in HLM environments. The center also focuses on developing corrosion-protective coatings, components, instrumentation, and innovative systems, supported by experiments and numerical modeling tools. This paper provides an overview of the research activities at Brasimone Research Center, highlighting its contributions to advancing lead-cooled fast reactor design.