RE:Fast Breeder reactor There is no point in fast breeder reactors unless you are concerned about the supply of Uranium. The British developed two fast breeder reactors at Dounreay in Scotland. Both were prototypes to test the nuclear physics of breeding plutonium from a blanket of Uranium around the core. The UK pursued this technology because it did not have any Uranium within its borders and imported it from Australia and Canada (and still does). Japan was in a similar position which is why it embarked on the Monju FBR. France - in collaboration with the UK built a SuperPhenix reactor that was supposed to produce 1300 MW. The only ones that actually operated and produced more fuel than it consumed was the Dounreay 250MW plant. That closed cycle was demonstrated in the 70's. The big problem with FBR's is the coolant. It is a 50-50 eutectic mixture of sodium metal and potassium metal called NaK (Sodium (Na)-Potassium (K)). This is used because the core energy density is very high and materials with very high heat capacity that can move large quantities of heat from small spaces very quickly is required. The unfortunate thing is that NaK reacts violently with both air and water and is solid at room temperatures. Maintenance...as you can imagine is a total nightmare. The major problem with them has been the liquid metal circulation pumps. Also in the event of a boiler tube failure you would have NaK entering the steam side of the plant....which is highly explosive.
So the theory behind them is great but the practicalities of actually running them and maintaining them is a whole other story.
Having said that the Chinese are building some prototypes (not sure where off the top of my head) but I have no doubt they will come up with imaginative resolutions to the problems that have plagued the UK, France, Japan and the USA. All four nations have built them but none has worked well enough for expansion to the commercial environment. The Russians also have just finished one I believe. I will find out more about it and post later.
But I have to agree with you that FBR technology is at least a decade or two away from commercial utilization. I did some research on the UK DFR (Dounreay Fast Reactor) years and years ago now trying to figure out how to measure the pressure inside the vessel with remote non-invasive technology. Everything about them is quite an engineering challenge.
The real issue is that Uranium is both plentiful and cheap so economically there is no point...but if you want your nation to be self sufficient in fuel then they are an elegant solution since they make more fuel than they consume so potentially could eliminate the need for mined Uranium...but don't hold your breath. Many years away yet.
Hope that helps
Malcolm