Summary Lead‐based fast reactor is one of the most promising fourth‐generation nuclear energy systems. Fuel assembly design is a key technology for the research and development of lead‐based fast reactor. The current status of typical lead‐based reactors and fuel assembly design schemes in the world are reviewed in this paper, and also the key technical parameters and design features of fuel assembly are summarized, with the advantages and disadvantages discussed. A hexagonal fuel assembly that can achieve both “passive” and “active” axial positioning by the gravity of ballast unit and mechanical locking device proposed by the nuclear fuel assembly research group of China initiative Accelerator Driven System project at Institute of Modern Physics has been emphatically introduced. It is expected that this paper can provide certain supporting data and reference solutions for the further design and development of fuel assembly for lead‐based reactor.

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