General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems has finished the conceptual design for its new helium gas-cooled fast modular reactor, or FMR.
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What Is the Fast Modular Reactor?
The Department of Energy said Tuesday the FMR is designed as a gas-cooled, modular reactor capable of delivering 44 megawatts of firm power while occupying less than a quarter of an acre of land. Factory-built for scalability, the reactor features an air-cooling system, making it well-suited for deployment in remote or arid environments. It uses high-assay low-enriched uranium, or HALEU, fuel encased in silicon carbide, enabling operation at temperatures twice those tolerated by conventional light-water reactor fuel.
The FMR is one of three early-stage concept projects exploring advanced nuclear energy technologies under the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. The DOE supports the project through an Advanced Reactor Concepts 2020, or ARC-20, award.
“The ARC-20 program has supported critical advances in the Gas-cooled Fast Reactor concept and demonstration of robust materials that enable an added layer of safety, while still enabling operation without the need for a water source,” said Christina Back, vice president of nuclear technologies and materials at General Atomics. “These features facilitate siting and compatibility for small communities and diverse applications, including the recycling of used nuclear fuel.”
How Did General Atomics Validate the FMR Design?
The General Atomics division validated the FMR design’s safety systems, fuel and operational performance through modeling and laboratory-scale testing, and fabricated sample fuel rods. The company has also filed licensing documents with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, paving the way for preliminary design and potential demonstration in the 2030s.
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