Uranium hydride -- uranium plus hydrogen -- both fuels the reactor and controls its nuclear activity. If it gets too hot, the uranium sheds hydrogen, slowing down the nuclear fission.

The idea of developing compact reactors has been bandied around for decades. In 1964, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission developed a pamphlet titled "Power Reactors in Small Packages." The thought was that portable reactors could be used in polar exploration, disaster recovery efforts or at radar stations.

"Although we all know that the history of such power plants was very short, these ideas are now being regenerated, revitalized by advancing technology and a continuing need," Nuclear Regulatory Commission member Peter Lyons said during a conference in September.

Los Alamos National Laboratory first used uranium hydride in efforts to design a safer nuclear weapon, Deal said.

But getting the N RC's immediate support may be a challenge.

Lyons, the NRC member, told the High Temperature Reactor 2008 conference that applications to build small reactors were "at the bottom of the NRC's priority list."

The commission wants to ensure such reactors are commercially viable before beginning licensing procedures, the trade publication Nuclear New Build Monitor reported last month.

Deal isn't worried about a lack of attention.

"The rest of the nuclear energy industry just thinks we're adorable," said Deal, who in 1992 founded a successful software company called LizardTech using technology developed at LANL.

Part of the solution

The Hyperion reactors would need to be dug up after five to 10 years of use and sent back to the factory for refueling. The company says the reactors will produce waste about the size of a softball.

Deal said a mechanical failure is unlikely because the reactors don't use fuel rods or other moving parts, while a unit would emit less radiation than the public is exposed to on a daily basis.

Still, even if Hyperion is a smashing success, Deal acknowledges the reactors will be only part of the solution.

"If we sold 4,000 of our units it would be a fraction of the electric demand around the world."

Deal views emissions-free nuclear reactors as one of the best ways of addressing global warming, whereas other alternative energies like solar and wind have no good way of storing the energy.

"I'm a left-wing environmentalist nutball, and I've embraced nuclear energy," Deal said. "We think this is important."

(c) 2008 Albuquerque Journal. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.

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