Progress and utilization of small nuclear reactors

In this study, we encompass different designs of small reactors, making a review since the beginning of the concept in the military and academic research, to the actual designs; and the prospective of this kind of reactors in the development of the nuclear industry. Small reactors were developed many years ago and have been in operation since 1950, but now, there is an increasing interest in developing small reactors for different applications or co-generation including a large variety of reactor designs with features ranging in coolant, cycle type, fuel, and energy applications; and enhancing features such as nuclear inherent safety, passive safety, and proliferation resistance. The modularity of some of these reactors makes them also a possible choice for nuclear development of some countries with units manufactured off-site and possible scaling into multimodular plants. Different lines of small reactors and current status are reviewed in this work.