Re:Triso particles have safety features that may power a new...
by Obi_Juan_Kenobi on Friday July 03, 2020 @07:01PM
(#23728366)
Using liquid water as your moderator really constrains how hot you can go.
[ Parent
| on HN ]
Re:Triso particles have safety features that may power a new...
by sbierwagen on Friday July 03, 2020 @08:20PM
(#23728859)
St. Vrain was helium cooled and graphite moderated and it only ran at 1430F, which still caused some hair-raising operational problems: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML0403/ML040340070.pdf
High temps are very good for efficiency, but are difficult for safety. Only China is building VHTRs right now. If anyone ever builds a supercritical water reactor then it would give you decent efficiency without the problems of exotic coolants.