Decouple Microreactors, Macro Problems
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Nov 12, 2024 Nick Touran, a nuclear engineer and manager at TerraPower, delves into the intricate world of microreactors. He highlights the sobering realities and fundamental challenges these technologies face, like neutronic constraints and production limitations. Touran discusses the historical significance of military microreactors and the complexities of radiation safety. He emphasizes the economic hurdles in the nuclear fuel market and the innovative solutions needed to enhance microreactor efficiency, while also navigating the hype around their commercialization.
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Neutronic Constraints of Small Reactors
- Tiny reactors are neutronically inefficient due to geometric constraints.
- Factory production cannot overcome these fundamental physics limitations.
Army Nuclear Power Program
- The Army Nuclear Power Program deployed microreactors to remote locations like Greenland and Antarctica.
- These reactors faced maintenance, economic, and safety issues, ultimately leading to their decommissioning.
HEU Advantages
- Highly enriched uranium (HEU) allows for smaller reactor cores due to better neutron economy.
- HEU also enables longer operation times before refueling.