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KAIROS POWER SELECTED BY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FOR AWARD TO ADVANCE NUCLEAR FUEL AND MATERIALS APPLICATIONS
Awards Received Under the Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF) Program and Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF) in Partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory
ALAMEDA, Calif. – June 28, 2019 – Kairos Power has been announced as an award recipient under two U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) programs to advance nuclear energy research and technology.
The first award, under the Department of Energy Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF) program, is for a project set to enhance nuclear technology as part of a nearly $50 million investment. The project is slated to conduct high-power Tri-structural Isotropic (TRISO) fuel particle irradiations to demonstrate significant performance margin to current Advanced Gas Reactor (AGR) tests, which can be applied to near term operation of the Kairos Power fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature nuclear reactor (KP-FHR). The irradiation test will be performed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR).
“The use of solid TRISO fuel in the KP-FHR design confers significant advantages in reactor safety and performance,” said Dr. Micah Hackett, Director of Technology Development at Kairos Power. “This NSUF award enables the demonstration through irradiation for dramatic performance improvements in TRISO fuel power and power density, and will have a significant effect on reducing fuel cycle cost for the future commercial KP-FHR design.”
The second award, for a project set to enhance nuclear technology from the Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF), aims to strengthen partnerships between the Department of Energy National Laboratories and private sector companies to deploy technologies to the marketplace. This initiative also partners Kairos Power with ORNL for fabrication and testing of solid-solution strengthened corrosion resistant alloys for service in molten fluoride salt environments, which helps to accelerate construction of the KP-FHR.
“Kairos Power continues to deepen engagement with the national labs to commercialize advanced materials for improved economics and performance of advanced nuclear reactor technologies,” said Hackett. “This TCF award will support commercialization of an advanced structural alloy that improves corrosion resistance and allows higher operating temperatures for the KP-FHR reactor technology.”
About Kairos Power
Kairos Power is a nuclear energy technology and engineering company whose mission is to enable the world’s transition to clean energy with the ultimate goal of dramatically improving people’s quality of life while protecting the environment. This goal will be accomplished through the commercialization of the Kairos Power fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR) that can be deployed with robust safety and at affordable cost.