Energy Multiplier Module: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:57, 30 April 2024

Revision as of 14:39, 30 April 2024

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==Design specifications==

EM2 is an advanced modular reactor expected to produce 265 MW_e (500 MW_th) of power with evaporateevaporative cooling (240 MW_e with dry cooling) at a core outlet temperature of {{convert|850|°C|-2}}. The reactor will be fully enclosed in an underground containment structure for 30 years without requiring refueling.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ga.com/advanced-reactors |title=Advanced Reactors |publisher=General Atomics |access-date = Feb 19, 2018}}</ref> EM2 differs from current reactors in that it does not use water coolant but is instead a [[gas-cooled fast reactor]], which uses [[helium]] as a coolant for an additional level of safety. The reactor uses a composite of [[silicon carbide]] as a fuel cladding material and [[zirconium]] silicide as [[neutron reflector]] material. The reactor unit is coupled to direct-drive helium [[closed-cycle gas turbine]] which drives a generator to produce electricity.

The nuclear core design is based upon a new conversion technique in which an initial "starter" section of the core provides the [[neutrons]] to convert fertile material (used nuclear fuel, thorium, or [[depleted uranium]]) into burnable [[fissile]] fuel.<ref>"With Disposal Uncertain, Waste Burning Reactors Gain Traction – EM2 to Burn LWR Fuel," Nuclear New Build Monitor, March 15, 2010</ref> First generation EM2 units use enriched uranium starters (approximately 15 percent [[U235]]) to initiate the conversion process.<ref>{{Cite journal |last = Choi |first = H. |title = A Compact Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor with an Ultra-Long Fuel Cycle |journal = Science and Technology of Nuclear Installations |volume = 2013 |pages = 1–10 |doi = 10.1155/2013/618707 |year = 2013 |doi-access = free }}</ref> The starter U235 is consumed as the fertile material is converted to fissile fuel. The core life expectancy is approximately 30 years without refueling or reshuffling the fuel.

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== External links ==

* {{official website|http://www.ga.com/advanced-reactors}}

* 2011-11-28: [https://web.archive.org/web/20130530133706/http://www.nuc.berkeley.edu/Colloquiums/2011-11-28 Presentation about the EM2 reactor at the Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California-Berkeley], [https://web.archive.org/web/20150714102414/http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/18810437 upstreamustream video] [https://web.archive.org/web/20130530143549/http://www.nuc.berkeley.edu/Colloquiums/2010-5-3 Previous presentation]

* 2015-05: [[Testimony]] of the Sr. Vice President of [[General Atomics]] before the [[Committee on Science, Space and Technology]]: [http://docs.house.gov/meetings/SY/SY20/20150513/103447/HHRG-114-SY20-Wstate-ParmentolaJ-20150513.pdf]