Physics code lets nuclear microreactors adjust power automatically

Scientists at the University of Michigan, funded by the US Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy, have developed a physics-based algorithm enabling nuclear microreactors to autonomously adjust their power output in response to demand. Focusing on High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors (HTGR) and specifically the Holos-Quad (Gen 2+) microreactor design, the team employed model predictive control (MPC) to optimize the rotation of control drums around the reactor core, thereby modulating power output without human intervention. This approach is particularly valuable for remote or hard-to-access locations where manual control is impractical. The algorithm demonstrated high precision during testing, maintaining power output within 0.234% of target levels while ramping power up or down at 20% per minute. Importantly, the control method is grounded entirely in physics and mathematics rather than artificial intelligence, enhancing transparency and regulatory acceptance. Integration with the PROTEUS simulation tool ensured accurate modeling of reactor behavior. The researchers highlight