U. S. Military Micro-Reactors developments and applications

Micro-reactors are very small nuclear reactors capable of operating independently from the electric grid to supply highly resilient power for critical loads, as well as primary power under normal and emergency conditions. It can operate for several years without the need to shutdown for refueling, and safety factor is high. In the past decade, the U. S. Congress and DoD have been interested in the use of small nuclear reactors and intend to deploy the first micro-reactor for a U. S. Department of Defense domestic installation to provide power and heat by December 31, 2027. This paper focuses on the background requirements for the deployment of micro-reactors; the enormous potential of micro-reactors for use in military installations; the progress in the development of micro-reactors; the risks and challenges at various stages of the deployment of micro-reactors. (authors)