Gen4 Energy
| Company type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Nuclear power |
| Predecessor | Hyperion Power Generation, Inc. |
| Defunct | April 1, 2018 |
| Fate | Discontinued operations after failed funding attempt |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Compact modular nuclear reactors (70 MW thermal, 25 MW electrical) |
Gen4 Energy, Inc.—previously known as Hyperion Power Generation, Inc.—was a privately held company dedicated to the development of compact modular nuclear reactors with a thermal output of 70 MW and an electrical capacity of 25 MW. These reactors were engineered to be cost-effective, intrinsically safe, and resistant to proliferation risks. The intended applications for these units encompassed district heating, power generation, and desalination processes.
The company discontinued its operations on April 1, 2018, following an unsuccessful attempt to obtain a subsequent round of funding from the Department of Energy in January 2016.
Early designs
In November 2009, Hyperion transitioned from its initial design based on a self-moderated uranium hydride reactor to a more conventional Generation IV configuration: a fast reactor cooled by lead-bismuth eutectic and fueled with uranium nitride, developed in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory. This liquid-metal-cooled fast reactor was selected to expedite the path toward commercialization compared to the earlier uranium hydride concept.
The uranium nitride fuel resembles traditional ceramic uranium oxide but benefits from superior thermal conductivity and operates efficiently at temperatures exceeding 250–300 °C, which allows for enhanced thermal efficiency in steam power plants. The reactor incorporates inherent safety mechanisms such as the Doppler negative temperature coefficient for reactivity control.
Designed for a service life of 3,650 full-power days at 70 MW thermal output, the module supports load-following capabilities. Deployment plans included pairing units to ensure uninterrupted operation during maintenance or replacement intervals.
The primary cooling system utilizes natural circulation of lead-bismuth eutectic coolant maintained around 500 °C. Heat is transferred through an intermediate loop containing lead-bismuth to a steam generator that heats the working fluid to approximately 480 °C. Power generation can be achieved with superheated steam or supercritical CO₂ driving turbines operating on Rankine or Brayton cycles. Besides electricity production, the heated working fluid can be used for desalination, industrial process heat, and district heating or cooling services.
Lead-bismuth eutectic coolant offers multiple benefits such as high heat capacity, low melting point, elevated boiling point, limited thermal expansion, opacity to gamma radiation, and neutron transparency. Its capability for natural circulation facilitates passive cooling during normal operation and decay heat removal after shutdown; it solidifies once residual heat diminishes.
Competing designs
For information on alternative small reactor designs, see List of small nuclear reactor designs, which includes:
External links
- About Us at Gen4 Energy (archived)