A small reactor to bring power to remote locations

Multimedia · 19 September 2018

OSTI ID:1570697

Fuel convoys are one of the largest targets of roadside bombs in war zones. A large portion of the fuel goes towards generating electricity that powers communications, water cleanup, and HVACs. Thus, finding a way to generate electricity that does not require a large logistics train could greatly reduce the risk to our military. A partnership between Los Alamos National Laboratory and Westinghouse is developing the solution: an inherently safe micro-reactor that uses heat-pipe technology. This system requires no cooling water or pumps that can fail, utilizes passive regulation systems so that it cannot meltdown, and can generate at least 1 megawatt of safe, reliable power for at least 10 years. A megawatt is enough to generate electricity for roughly a military brigade, or approximately 1,500 to 4,000 soldiers.

• Research Organization: LANL (Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States))
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• OSTI ID: 1570697
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
ELECTRICITY
HEAT PIPES
MICRO-REACTOR
NUCLEAR REACTOR
SMALL NUCLEAR REACTOR