Nuclear microreactor advances key helium cooling system into detailed design

A critical cooling component for a new nuclear microreactor has moved into detailed design, marking another engineering step toward building a prototype. The helium circulator is being developed for the KRONOS MMR Energy System, a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor under development by NANO Nuclear Energy.The circulator will move helium through the reactor core to carry heat away from the fuel and maintain the reactor’s thermal performance. Its design will therefore influence how efficiently the reactor transfers heat and how reliably the system operates over time. NANO Nuclear is developing the component with Howden, a Baker Hughes business with experience in helium turbomachinery and high-temperature gas-cooled reactor systems. Howden is leading the engineering work while working with NANO Nuclear’s reactor team. The collaboration has now progressed beyond preliminary engineering. Howden has completed engineering evaluations, created three-dimensional design models, carried out supporting analyses and held formal design reviews with NANO Nuclear. Reactor cooling takes shape The move to detailed design gives the team a more defined engineering basis for testing, qualification and eventual manufacturing. The companies will continue work on materials and performance testing, component qualification, design optimization and manufacturing planning. The helium circulator is particularly important in a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor because helium serves as the coolant that transports heat generated inside the core. Unlike water-cooled reactors, the system relies on a gas coolant operating at high temperatures. For KRONOS, the goal is to integrate the circulator into a compact reactor system while meeting requirements for thermal performance, manufacturability, and long-term operation. “Progressing the primary helium circulator into detailed design represents another important milestone in the continued development of the KRONOS MMR™ Energy System. Advancement of the circulator design strengthens the technical foundation of the overall reactor program and demonstrates the disciplined engineering execution essential for successful commercialization. We continue to make steady progress across both engineering and regulatory activities as we advance the KRONOS program toward prototype construction, regulatory licensing and future deployment,” said James Walker, chief executive officer of NANO Nuclear Energy.The company is also working on other parts of the reactor architecture. Its collaboration with Fortil covers the fuel handling and storage system, which will support the handling, storage and management of nuclear fuel during reactor operations. More systems move toward testing NANO Nuclear says the parallel development of these subsystems is intended to build a standardized engineering foundation for future reactor deployments. The company is also engaged in pre-application activities with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the KRONOS reactor and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The reactor is intended to be a stationary high-temperature gas-cooled microreactor. The helium circulator’s detailed design will now need to progress through additional qualification and testing before the component can move toward manufacturing. That work will help determine whether the design can meet the performance requirements established for the reactor. “NANO Nuclear’s strategy is built upon developing advanced reactor technology through disciplined engineering execution and strategic collaborations with world-class supply chain partners. Our continued work with Howden reflects that commitment, bringing together complementary expertise to advance a critical reactor subsystem. Each engineering milestone strengthens the industrial ecosystem supporting KRONOS while further positioning the program for future first-of-a-kind deployment and long-term commercial success,” said Jay Yu, founder and chairman of NANO Nuclear Energy.The company says the broader KRONOS program is progressing toward prototype construction, regulatory licensing and eventual deployment, although the latest announcement represents an engineering milestone rather than authorization to build or operate the reactor.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.