Dow SMR

The new interest in small modular reactors (SMR’s) is not limited to the big social media companies as Dow Chemical starts construction on four SMR’s at its Seadrift complex in Texas. Each will have 80 MW for a total output of 320 MW’s. Other companies like Nucor and Constellation Energy, both which need electric power 24/7 and want zero carbon are active. The Dow unit is using TRISO as fuel. These are small pellets containing uranium wrapped in ceramic and graphite. This gives the unit the walk away shut down safety and lowers waste product production. The pellets are added continuously and when power shuts down the addition of fuel stops and the reactor shuts down. These reactors do not require shut down to add new fuel and thus run 24/7. There are currently 80 companies working on developing SMR’s.