[ RadSafe ] Modular nuclear reactor

[Jim Hardeman]

Mike / Eric --
 
My understanding is that this reactor uses uranium hydride fuel, and that the moderation properties of uranium hydride tend to make the reactor "self controlling". That's about as much info as I could glean.
 
My $0.02 worth ...
 
Jim

>>> "Brennan, Mike  (DOH)" <Mike.Brennan at DOH.WA.GOV> 11/20/2008 14:39 >>>
So, is it producing heat by fission?  If so, how does it adjust the
neutron flux to maintain a constant power level in the face of burn-up
of fuel and build-up of neutron poison fission fragments?  How do they
deal with the great increase in activity due to the fission fragments
having much shorter half-lives than the fuel?  What is the working fluid
to remove heat from the reactor, and how is the heat turned into
electricity?  

The diagrams on the website are pretty, but short on details that would
help evaluate their product.   

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On
Behalf Of Eric.Goldin at sce.com 
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:19 AM
To: radsafe at radlab.nl 
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Modular nuclear reactor

Howard Long asked about the modular reactor suitable for about 20,000
homes.  The company is Hyperion and they have rights to produce a
reactor type developed a Los Alamos.  I'm still not exactly sure what
the technology entails (low enrichment, no water coolant....) but go to
their website and they have press releases claiming they have 10 orders.

<http://www.hyperionpowergeneration.com/index.html>


Hyperion Fast Facts
Small -1.5 meters across, approx size of a residential ?hot tub? 

Produces 70 MWt or 25 MWe, enough to power 20,000 average American homes
or the equivalent 

Buried underground out of sight and harm?s way 

Transportable by train, ship, truck 

Sealed module, never opened on site 

Enough power for 5+ years 

After 5 years, removed & refueled at original factory 

Uniquely safe, self-moderating using a natural chemical reaction
discovered 50 years ago 

No mechanical parts in the core to malfunction 

Water not used as coolant; cannot go ?supercritical? or get too hot 

No greenhouse gases or global warming emissions 

Think: Large Battery! 


Eric M. Goldin
<Eric.Goldin at sce.com>
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