As the demand for clean, high-efficiency energy grows, a research team led by Justin Watson, Ph.D., and Chris McDevitt, Ph.D., associate professors of nuclear engineering at the University of Florida, is exploring gas core nuclear reactors (GCRs). This next-generation reactor design could offer a safer and more efficient way to generate atomic power by replacing traditional solid fuel rods with gaseous uranium fuel.
Traditional nuclear power plants have long provided a non-CO2 emitting alternative to fossil fuels. They operate using solid uranium dioxide fuel encased in zirconium alloy rods and cooled by water. While this approach has been effective, it comes with challenges, particularly the risk of fuel melting in extreme conditions.
Gas core reactors take a different approach. Unlike conventional reactors that rely on water as both a coolant and neutron moderator, gas core reactors operate at temperatures high enough to cause the partial or complete ionization of the uranium fuel to form a plasma, enabling innovative confinement schemes to be deployed. This unique configuration allows for continuous fuel cycling, reducing nuclear waste and minimizing plutonium production. This has implications for nuclear security, as it reduces the amount of material that could be repurposed for weapons.