KP-FHR (Kairos)
US
Basics
Reactor Type
Molten Salt Reactor
Molten salt reactor
Primary heat transport: molten salt - often F compounds
Primary heat transport: molten salt - often F compounds
Reactor Description
High temperature pellet MSR
Electric Output (MWe)
140
Thermal Output (MWt)
320
Size
Medium
'Medium' size
Electric output of between 100 MWe and 200 MWe
Electric output of between 100 MWe and 200 MWe
Spectrum
Thermal
Kinetic neutron energy of 0.000…0.025 eV
Slow or cold neutron / moderated neutron spectrum
Slow or cold neutron / moderated neutron spectrum
Developer
KAIROS Power, LLC.
Pilot Site Details
Oak Ridge (Hermes demonstrator)
Details
Use (goal of commercial operation)
electric power generation
Deployment medium
Land-based
Design Lifetime (Years)
80
Fuel
Fuel class
MOX
Mixed-oxide (nuclear fuel)
Fuel made from a mix of uranium and plutonium oxides
Fuel made from a mix of uranium and plutonium oxides
LEU
Low enriched uranium
Uranium enriched to less than 5 percent U-235
Uranium enriched to less than 5 percent U-235
Thorium
Thorium (Th)
Naturally-occurring, slightly radioactive metal, three times more abundant than uranium
Naturally-occurring, slightly radioactive metal, three times more abundant than uranium
Fuel Type
TRISO Pebble
Tristructural isotropic (nuclear fuel)
Consists of movable spherical elements of tennis-ball size called pebbles
Consists of movable spherical elements of tennis-ball size called pebbles
Fuel Cycle
N/A
Refuelling Cycle
N/A
Cooling & Temperature
Reactor cooling of primary loop
Lithium-Beryllium Fluoride
Reactor moderator
Graphite
Crystalline allotrope of element carbon
Special quality characteristics as moderator
Special quality characteristics as moderator
Reactor Outlet Temperature (°C)
650
Status
Design status
Conceptual design
Licensing status
2023 - NRC issued construction permit for
2023 - NRC issued construction permit for Hermes test reactor
Deployment timeline
2024 - Construction began on the
2024 - Construction began on the Hermes KP-FHR demonstration reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Agreements and Engagement
- Oct 2024 - Google announced a deal...
- Oct 2024 - Google announced a deal to back the construction of seven SMRs
- Oct 2024 - Kairos started construction of salt production facility for KP-FHR
