Lead-cooled Fast Reactor R&D
In 2011, the Chinese Academy of Sciences rolled out a strategic research project on an ADS transmutation system to explore advanced nuclear fission solutions for the future, with a special focus on lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) technology. In implementing the project, a series of world-class engineering validation platforms for lead-cooled reactors have been built, namely, the large-scale lead alloy-cooled liquid metal loop facility, the reactor physics experimental facility, the reactor engineering verification experimental facility and the digital simulation experimental reactor, laying the groundwork for the implementation of LFR projects.
On October 9, 2019, China's first lead-bismuth cooled zero-power reactor "Qi Ming Xing III" reached criticality for the first time at CIAE, and physical experiments on nuclear properties of lead-bismuth cooled reactor cores were officially launched, marking a substantial step forward in R&D of this technology.
铅基快堆研发
2011年，中国科学院设立了“未来先进核裂变能——ADS嬗变系统”战略性先导科技专项，进行铅基反应堆技术的系统性研究。在相关研究中，已建成性能和参数国际领先的大型铅合金液态金属回路装置群、铅基堆物理实验装置、铅基堆工程验证实验装置、数字仿真实验反应堆等铅基堆工程验证平台，为铅基堆工程化实施提供了支持。
2019年10月9日，中国首座铅铋合金零功率反应堆“启明星Ⅲ号”，在中国原子能科学研究院实现首次临界，正式启动我国铅铋堆芯核特性物理实验，这标志着中国在铅铋快堆领域的研发跨出实质性一步。