The subsequent era of nuclear reactors is getting extra superior. Here’s how.

Many of those so-called superior applied sciences have been invented and even demonstrated over 50 years in the past, earlier than the business converged on the usual water-cooled plant designs. But now there’s renewed curiosity in getting various nuclear reactors up and working. New designs might assist enhance security, effectivity, and even price. 

Coolant

Alternative coolants can enhance on security over water-based designs, since they don’t all the time must be saved at excessive pressures. Many may also attain greater temperatures, which may permit reactors to run extra effectively. 

Molten salt is one main contender for various coolants, utilized in designs from Kairos Power, Terrestrial Energy, and Moltex Energy. These designs can use much less gasoline and produce waste that’s simpler to handle. 

Other corporations need to liquid metals, together with sodium and lead. There are just a few sodium-cooled reactors working immediately, primarily in Russia, and the nation can also be on the forefront in growing lead-cooled reactors. Metal-cooled reactors share most of the potential security advantages of molten-salt designs. Helium and different gases may also be used to succeed in greater temperatures than water-cooled methods. X-energy is designing a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor utilizing helium. 

Fuel

Most reactors that use another coolant additionally use another gasoline.  

TRISO, or tri-structural isotropic particle gasoline, is among the hottest choices. TRISO particles comprise uranium, enclosed in ceramic and carbon-based layers. This retains the gasoline contained, protecting all of the merchandise of fission reactions inside and permitting the gasoline to withstand corrosion and melting. Kairos and X-energy each plan to make use of TRISO gasoline of their reactors. 

Other reactors use HALEU: high-assay low-enriched uranium. Most nuclear gasoline utilized in business reactors accommodates between 3% and 5% uranium-235. HALEU, however, accommodates between 5% and 20% uranium-235, permitting reactors to get extra energy in a smaller area. 

Size

I do know I mentioned I’d hold this to 2 issues, however let’s embrace a bonus class. In addition to altering up the specifics of issues like gasoline and coolant, many corporations are working to construct reactors of various (largely smaller) sizes.