![]() The heat created by fission turns the water into steam, which spins a turbine to produce carbon-free electricity. The moderator helps slow down the neutrons produced by fission to sustain the chain reaction.Ĭontrol rods can then be inserted into the reactor core to reduce the reaction rate or withdrawn to increase it. Inside the reactor vessel, the fuel rods are immersed in water which acts as both a coolant and moderator. A reactor core is typically made up of a couple hundred assemblies, depending on power level. Typically, more than 200 of these rods are bundled together to form a fuel assembly. The uranium is processed into small ceramic pellets and stacked together into sealed metal tubes called fuel rods. The modules can also be individually refueled so that an SMR plant is never fully offline.Reactors use uranium for nuclear fuel. Modules can be added or taken offline to match electricity demand, giving the plants immense flexibility. Small modular reactors also can vary in size from a dozen megawatts to hundreds of megawatts per module. Some SMRs would use fuel akin to what runs today’s nuclear reactors, while others would use new types of fuels.ĭifferent designs can have different end uses such as power generation, process heat supply or desalination. Some use light water as a coolant while others rely on coolants such as a gas, liquid metal or molten salt. Advanced SMR designs span a range of sizes and technology options. Like any fission reactor, a small modular reactor uses energy from a controlled nuclear chain reaction to create steam that powers a turbine to produce electricity. Small modular reactor designs include passive safety features that rely on the natural laws of physics to shut down and cool the reactor during abnormal conditions. Pairing small modular reactors with renewables can ensure emission-free energy is always available. SMRs complement other clean energy sources such as wind and solar. For example, a proposed 920-MW NuScale SMR would have a 35-acre footprint, while a traditional nuclear plant generating the same amount of electricity would require nearly 500 acres. Small modular reactors pack a lot of energy punch in a relatively small footprint. Just like other sources of baseload energy, SMRs can produce electricity 24/7 and be ramped up or down based on demand. Small modular reactors generate clean, carbon-free electricity as well as heat, a necessary ingredient for industrial chemical processes to make plastics and other materials for consumer goods. Small modular reactor modules can be assembled in a factory, then transported to the operating location, substantially reducing costs and construction time. Units could be added as demand increases. Small modular reactors can be customized for a location depending on generation needs and the available infrastructure, such as transmission line capacity. SMRs also offer distinct safeguards, security and nonproliferation advantages. Advanced small modular reactors offer advantages such as relatively small size, reduced capital investment, ability to be sited in locations not possible for larger nuclear plants, and provisions for incremental power additions. Nuclear energy generates more than half of the nation’s carbon-free electricity. ![]() WHY ARE SMALL MODULAR REACTORS IMPORTANT? SMRs can be used for power generation, process heat, desalination or other industrial applications. Modular designs make it possible to assemble major reactor components in a factory and add reactor modules as needed. Small modular reactors are envisioned to vary in size according to configuration. About 1/10 to 1/4 the size of a traditional nuclear energy plant, SMRs feature compact, simplified designs with advanced safety features. A small modular reactor (SMR) is a nuclear fission reactor that features factory-built-and-assembled modules in a variety of configurations and electricity outputs.
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