The Hyperion Power Module

When you think of the Hyperion Power Module (HPM), you can discard much of what know about nuclear power.

Hyperion is different.

Think Big Battery…

Like a battery, the HPM is a compact, transportable unit with no moving internal parts. It’s not to be opened once distributed from the factory.

Once sited safely in its underground containment vessel, an HPM is monitored but does not require a battery of operational personnel.. It just quietly delivers safe, reliable power – 70 MW thermal or 25 MW electric via steam turbine – for a period of seven to 10 years.

The core of the HPM produces energy via a safe, natural heat-producing process that occurs with the oscillation of hydrogen in uranium hydride. HPMs cannot go “supercritical,” melt down, or get “too hot.” It maintains its safe, operating temperature without the introduction and removal of “cooling rods” – an operation that has the potential for mechanical failure.

A good bit bigger than the typical consumer battery, HPMs are, however, just a fraction of the size of conventional nuclear power plants. About 1.5 meters across, the units’ size can be compared to a deep residential hot tub. It’s the size, along with the transportability and ease of operation, that make the self-contained HPM such a desirable choice for providing consistent, reliable, affordable power in remote locations.

Large conventional nuclear power plants are a necessary component of the global solution to the climate change problem. Nuclear power, including that provided by the HPM, emits no greenhouse gases. And, pound for pound its fuel component – uranium – delivers more actual energy than any other fuel available to today. Because its fuel packs more power, less is required.

Therefore the mining of uranium is more efficient and causes less damage to the environment than traditional hydrocarbon fuels such as coal and natural gas. Nuclear power is also the safest, most regulated and protected form of energy on the planet today. No other industry is as closely monitored and today’s nuclear technology is constantly evolving as researchers strive on a daily basis to make it even safer.

Nuclear power will continue to play an important role in the global solution to the climate change problem. Now, because of Hyperion’s unique technology, the benefits of affordable energy from big power plants are available even when and where large, conventional nuclear power plants are not appropriate.

Think battery, with the benefits of nuclear power. Think Hyperion.

Who invented Hyperion?

Otis G. (Pete) Peterson, Ph.D. invented the self-regulating, inherently safe nuclear battery (reactor) during his tenure at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). In addition to designing the Hyperion reactor and co-inventing a biomass to fuel conversion process, his technical expertise has focused on wavelength tunable lasers, solid-state physics, and international science issues.

Why is Hyperion safer than conventional nuclear power?

Often referred to as a “cartridge” reactor or “nuclear battery,” the Hyperion HyperDrive is self- regulating with no mechanical parts to break down or otherwise fail. The inherent properties of uranium hydride serve as both fuel and moderator providing unparalleled safety among nuclear reactors. Sealed at the factory, the module is not opened until it has been returned to the factory to be refueled, approximately every five years or so, depending on use. This containment, along with the strategy of completely burying the module at the operating site, protects against the possibility of human incompetence, or hostile tampering and proliferation.

Why is Hyperion cleaner and more environmentally friendly?

Nuclear power produces no greenhouse gases and therefore makes no contribution to global warming. In addition, the hydride fuel is simpler to reprocess, making it much more attractive to concentrate the radioactive fragments in the fuel and minimize waste disposal. The only water used in the operation is in the power conversion steam cycle, which is not exposed to any radiation. This greatly eliminates the potential for contamination of the environment.

How is Hyperion Less Expensive?

Hyperion offers a 30% reduction in capital costs from conventional gigawatt reactor installations (from US$2,000 per kW to US$1,400 per kW). Hyperion also offers more than a 50% reduction in operating costs (based on costs for field-generation of steam in heavy oil recovery operations), from US$7 per million BTU for natural gas to US$3 per million BTU for Hyperion. The possibility of mass production, operation and standardization of design for the Hyperion power module allows for significant savings.

How does Hyperion work?

Unlike conventional designs, the proposed reactor is self-regulating through the inherent properties of uranium hydride, which serves as a combination fuel and moderator. The temperature-driven mobility of the hydrogen contained in the hydride controls the nuclear activity. If the core temperature increases over the set point, the hydrogen is driven out of the core, the moderation drops, and the power production decreases. If the temperature drops, the hydrogen returns and the process is reversed. Thus the design is inherently fail-safe and will require minimal human oversight. The compact nature and inherent safety open the possibility for low-cost mass production and operation of the reactors.

Will Hyperion be licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission?

Requirements by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) are considered the universal “gold standards” of safety. HPG has already had several meetings with the NRC and will continue to pursue the necessary design approvals and license to manufacture and operate Hyperion power modules.

http://www.hyperionpowergeneration.com/ This Mini-Nuclear Reactor could save Thailand 6 Billion USD compared to conventional 2 Gigawatt Nuclear Power Plant. It's so small and safe, that it can be installed right where the power is needed, Mall, Hotel, and Factory. Awesome.      

but still I prefer green energy...........but hey I am a dreamer, thanks Bruce for this article

Gee, I still think Energy Efficiency could save 20% of all power consumed in Thailand and Renewables could provide 20% to 40% of the power generation and even more if Thailand took GeoThermal power seriously. The Hyperion reactor is certainly a lesser evil than a big nuke or coal plant. The gorilla in the locker room is EGAT and friends unscrupulous behavior.

Cool if they can sell it. Better then conventional nukes and would help offset coal !!

Hi Bruce,

kowjai krap

It is great in theory, but having small amounts of uranium scattered throughout the world in unsecure places just doesn't sit right with me.

In theory I'm opposed to nuclear fission in any form, itleaves adeadlylegacy of waste products that will still be lethal many human generations down the line. Also, it was said that the nuclear reactor was "inherently safe" and that PWRs "could only possibly fail safely" - but thet was before Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. However, as a pragmatist, I accept that the exponentially increasing demand for power in the modern worls makes some nuclear option inevitable and this does appear to be a particularly promising development. Thanks for the post Bruce

Admn wrote :It is great in theory, but having small amounts of uranium scattered throughout the world in unsecure places just doesn't sit right with me.

I'm not feeling secure with the supposedly secure uranium in Russia China India Pakistan France England not to mention plutonium in huge amounts scattered around the globe........

but then man has a record of safety consciousness and looking out for the future generations right ,,,,NOT

Jerry...

None in Thailand?.....I noticed it off the list.....