Perspectives of modular high temperature gas-cooled reactor (MHTGR) on effluent management and siting

The MHTGR is an advanced reactor concept being developed under a cooperative program involving the US Government, the utilities and the nuclear industry. The programs objective is the development of an environmentally safe, reliable, and economic nuclear power option for the USA and other nations of the world. HTGR design features, such as the ceramic fuel, helium coolant, and graphite moderator, are incorporated into the MHTGR reference plant design which incorporates four 350 MW(t) reactor modules. This papers objective is to describe those plant features, which minimize the environmental impact of MHTGR operation through efficient energy production, management of normal plant non-radioactive/radioactive effluents, and inherent characteristics and passive safety features which ensure benign plant site suitability source terms. 16 refs