The 11th NEA Expert Group on Reactor Coolants and Components Technology (EGCoCoT) meeting was held at the OECD headquarters in Paris on 22-23 April 2025, bringing together 42 international experts from research organisations, national laboratories, reactor design companies and international organisations to assess the status of work on heavy liquid metals (HLMs) and sodium-cooled systems.
Key discussion areas included:
- Updates from key partner organisations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Generation IV International Forum (GIF), providing a broader perspective on international research directions;
- Sodium-related R&D activities, including activity proposals and milestones, aiming to enhance the understanding of sodium coolant behaviour and associated safety considerations;
- A comprehensive update on the 2015 Heavy Liquid Metal Handbook, with presentations covering a wide range of topics, including thermophysical properties, corrosion mechanisms, irradiation effects, thermal-hydraulics, instrumentation and safety guidelines for lead and lead-bismuth eutectic systems.
The EGCoCoT, operating under the guidance of the NEA Working Party on Scientific Issues of Advanced Fuel Cycles (WPFC), focuses on collecting, evaluating, and preserving scientific data related to reactor coolants and their interactions with structural materials. The group aims to translate fundamental scientific understanding into practical applications, supporting the development and deployment of advanced technologies by addressing key technical issues for design, licensing, and operation of heavy liquid metals and sodium-cooled systems.
