Japanese researchers develop urban nuclear reactor

Brief

November 21, 2002

A research team from the Tokyo Institute of Technology is developing a small-scale nuclear reactor for urban use that can supply heat as well as electricity. Similar to the pebble bed modular reactor (PBMR) of U.S. giant Exelon Corp., the reactor uses CO2 as a coolant, can generate 1,000 MWe with 50% greater efficiency than a light water reactor, and minimizes the risk of a core meltdown.