Small Rugged Reactor Technologies
Abstract
True self-sufficiency at forward operating bases (FOBs) requires the development of deployable power plant concepts that can operate without need for refueling or logistics resupply. Such a power plant needs to provide base electricity requirements and produce additional electrical, and/or thermal energy, to drive processes for hydrocarbon fuel and potable water production in sufficient quantities to sustain the base. This will significantly reduce the need for delivery of these items via dangerous and difficult routes. The only known technology that has potential to address the power needs of the envisioned self-sufficient FOB is a nuclear-fuel reactor. The need for an integrated, deployable system that produces electricity, fuel, and water presents technical challenges that are unlikely to be addressed by existing commercial or Government funded advanced reactor concept development efforts. For example, integrating hydrocarbon fuel production with electricity production will require either advanced reactor designs that provide thermal energy at the temperatures required for known hydrocarbon production processes, or the development of novel fuel production processes that are compatible with temperatures achievable with existing reactor concepts. The scale of a reactor needed for a FOB (well below the scale of the smallest reactors that are being developed for domestic energy production) poses unique challenges with materials and reactor design. In addition, non-proliferable fuels (i.e., fuels other than enriched uranium or plutonium) and reactor designs that are fundamentally safe will be required of reactors that may be deployed to regions where hostile acts may compromise operations. This will require development of novel fuels and approaches to effectively shut down reactor operations in a way that leaves any remaining fissile material safely contained and useless for weapons applications. The Small Rugged Reactor Technologies thrust will explore these unique challenges while collaborating with DoE to ensure that existing advanced reactor development activities are being exploited and/or accelerated as appropriate, based on the military's needs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2012
- Source ID
- aaf1e88a6ffb74a82684f014bd547e0e