Towards the miniaturization of nuclear energy.

in Popular STEM2 days ago

Towards the miniaturization of nuclear energy.



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The Pentagon has signed an agreement with X-energy to develop the Xe-100 microreactor, which is the size of a small container and capable of generating up to 10 MW of energy for 20 years without recharging. Imagine a military base operating in isolation, without relying on fuel trucks or vulnerable power grids. That is the kind of autonomy the Pentagon is seeking with the Xe-100.


The project gained momentum with an official agreement to accelerate the implementation of this type of technology in military facilities. It is compact, modular, and designed to be transported and activated quickly. The system uses helium as the primary coolant and a Brayton cycle with a gas turbine to convert heat into electrical energy.




The infrastructure is divided into four main blocks: the reactor core, the heat transfer system, the energy conversion system, and the containment building. This simplified design does not compromise safety, as there are multiple layers of shielding and mechanisms for complete shutdown within two years after the end of its useful life.


In practice, this type of reactor could provide the armed forces with continuous power, even capable of cold starts during operations, without relying on vulnerable logistics chains. It is a gain in energy resilience that can make a difference in crisis scenarios, and the impact should not be limited to military use.


X-Energy itself is already working on larger models such as the XE-100 with 80 MB capacity aimed at industries and large customers. The Zenit, therefore, is more than a prototype; it is a first step and a trend toward nuclear miniaturization that could change the way humanity generates and consumes energy.





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