Kairos Power automates fuel pebble inspections

[Marlin]

Kairos Power automates fuel pebble inspections

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/kairos-power-automates-fuel-pebble-inspections

[Core Content]

An infrared laser etches markings half a millimeter deep into each pebble, without compromising the graphite shell (Image: Kairos Power)

Kairos Power opened a new facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, featuring an automated system to inspect and engrave fuel pebbles for its fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactors. The system measures physical dimensions and uses lasers to verify structural integrity before marking each TRISO fuel pebble with a unique tracking code. This infrastructure aims to improve material accountability and support commercial scale manufacturing for upcoming test units.

A new facility at Kairos Power's Manufacturing Development Campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico, verifies manufacturing specifications and engraves each fuel pebble with a unique code so it can be traced through testing and operation. ;

The automated quality control and tracking system supports Kairos Power's iterative approach to fuel development by streamlining throughput, strengthening material accountability, and generating data that can inform future pebble manufacturing and handling systems, the company said.

The fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR) technology being developed by Kairos Power uses molten fluoride salt coolant with "pebbles" of TRISO (tri-structural isotropic) fuel. The company is optimising production methods for the pebbles at its Manufacturing Development Campus, where it is producing solid graphite moderator pebbles as well as annular surrogate fuel pebbles.

Read the full article at World Nuclear News:
https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/kairos-power-automates-fuel-pebble-inspections