Mhtgr Modular High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor Design And Development Status

The Modular High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (MHTGR) is an advanced power plant concept which has been under design definition since 1984. The design utilizes basic high-temperature gas-cooled reactor features of ceramic fuel, helium coolant and a graphite moderator which have been under development for 30 years. The geometric arrangement of the reactor vessels, the core and the heat removal components has been selected to exploit the inherent characteristics associated with high temperature materials. The design utilizes passively safe features which provide a higher margin of safety and investment protection than current generation reactors. The design has been evaluated to be economically attractive relative to modern coal fired plants. The design and development program is a cooperative effort by the US government, the utilities and the nuclear industry. 8 refs., 4 figs., 4 tabs.