The SEALER only takes up 5x5 meters. It has an output of 55MW and fuel residence time of 25 years. It has no overpressure system (1 atm), no exothermic reaction with structural materials nor water, and passive decay heat is removed by natural convection.

The competitive advantage stems from the reactor’s overall compactness and forecasted production volumes, which results in components that are of a size that are more optimally conducive to scalability and repeatability in production.

Blykalla’s reactors are passively safe, which means that no supply of electricity, other means of power nor human action is required for emergency cooling of residual heat. Moreover, the lower power of SMRs as compared to larger reactors, means that less residual heat needs to be removed to ensure the integrity of the fuel cladding tubes.

Fuels that have a higher uranium density can be used longer than the standard UO2 fuel. Uranium nitride features 40% more uranium per volume unit, which equals a 40% longer life for the fuel. This also leads to better safety margins (operating at > 1,500°C below its melting point), with seven times higher thermal conductivity in the fuel.

While this fuel is difficult to manufacture using conventional methods, Blykalla has a solution that enables the direct conversion of enriched UF6 in streaming NH3. Using “Spark Plasma Sintering” – current (1000 A) assisted hot pressing – pellets can be sintered in just 3 minutes at 1450°C. In comparison, this takes 8 h at 1900°C using conventional methods.