HTMR-100 USES TRISO FUEL
SMALL MODULAR REACTOR
TRISO Fuel: Engineered Containment at the Particle Level
The HTMR-100 uses TRISO fuel, one of the most advanced nuclear fuel forms developed for Generation IV reactor systems. Each fuel particle is individually coated with multiple protective layers designed to retain fission products under extreme operating conditions.
These microscopic fuel particles are embedded within a graphite matrix to form robust spherical fuel elements. This structure ensures that the fuel behaves as a stable, contained system throughout its operational life inside the reactor.
The defining characteristic of TRISO fuel is its inherent containment capability. Each particle acts as a self-contained barrier, meaning that radioactive material is structurally locked in at a material level rather than relying solely on reactor vessel boundaries. Even under high temperature conditions, the layered coatings are designed to maintain integrity and prevent release.
This fuel form supports continuous operation and high-temperature performance while maintaining a strong safety margin. It also contributes directly to the HTMR-100’s passive safety profile, as the fuel itself is engineered to remain stable without reliance on active cooling interventions.
For investors and stakeholders, TRISO fuel represents a fundamental shift in nuclear risk architecture. It is not simply fuel in the conventional sense, but a purpose-designed containment system operating at the smallest physical scale.
In nuclear engineering, safety is often defined by barriers. TRISO does not rely on one barrier alone, but thousands of millions of them, each one built into the fuel itself.
