USNC Boosts MMR Power, Flexibility, and Value
- A technology breakthrough in our patented FCM fuel allows a fuel geometry that results in both higher power and increased safety, enabling the MMR to make three times more power.
- The MMR can use LEU or HALEU and operate at various power levels to serve a range of customers with a single standardized design.
- The MMR is opening new markets and generating unprecedented interest across a range of industrial heat, micro- and off-grid power, and zero-carbon hydrogen applications.
SEATTLE (August 1, 2023) – Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC), the U.S.-based global leader in the deployment of fourth-generation gas-cooled microreactors, today announced strategic updates to the standardized design of their flagship Micro-Modular™ Reactor (MMR®) to better serve a range of new markets. The MMR can flexibly work with either HALEU (19.75% enrichment) or LEU+ (9.9% enrichment) and operate at various power levels from 10 MWt (3.3 MWe) to 45 MWt (15 MWe).
To accomplish this update, USNC is successfully demonstrating breakthrough technologies in 3-D printing and advanced manufacturing of its patented Fully Ceramic Microencapsulated (FCM®) fuel. These technologies allow the flexibility to produce unique geometry FCM fuel pellets. FCM further encases TRISO particles in silicon carbide, ensuring that the helium coolant remains free from contamination. This advancement reduces thermal stresses on the fuel and enables increases in the output temperature and power of the MMR.
USNC’s industry-leading MMR is poised to decarbonize global industrial energy demand driven by process heat. Deep engagement across a range of customers and investors led the company to seek innovation around a versatile design that better serves higher heat and power demands while still serving remote application customers.
“Making these important changes now brings focus to USNC resources and ensures our demonstrations will be the same design as our commercial deployments, increasing their relevance,” said Dan Stout, CNO of USNC. “It is worth some near-term schedule impact for the flexibility and a 300% power uprate.”
USNC is in pre-licensing engagement with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in the U.S. and with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) in Canada through the Global First Power (GFP) joint venture with Ontario Power Generation. The news follows recent announcements including selecting a site for their MMR Assembly Plant and successful delivery of TRISO fuel for NASA produced at USNC’s Pilot Fuel Manufacturing facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
About Ultra Safe Nuclear
Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC), a U.S. company headquartered in Seattle (WA), is a global leader and strong vertical integrator of nuclear technologies and services, on Earth and in Space. The company produces the Micro-Modular™ reactor (MMR®), TRISO-based Fully Ceramic Microencapsulated (FCM®) nuclear fuel, and develops nuclear power and propulsion technologies for space exploration.
The company has active micro reactor deployment projects in Canada at the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories in Chalk River, and in the United States at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Additional units are in development in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
USNC is committed to opening new markets around the world for safe, commercially competitive, power and heat from nuclear energy. Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation is Reliable Zero-Carbon Energy. Anywhere.
Media Contact
Brian Meeley
b.meeley@usnc.com
703.282.0691