High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor
Gas-Cooled family · Generation IV · Demonstration
Helium-cooled, graphite-moderated reactors using robust TRISO fuel particles that retain fission products at very high temperatures — enabling process heat and strong passive safety.
How it works — schematic
🚧 Diagram in progress Simplified schematic for orientation, not an engineering drawing — we're actively refining these for accuracy.
Key specs
- Coolant
- Helium
- Moderator
- Graphite
- Fuel
- TRISO particles
- Spectrum
- Thermal
- Outlet temp
- ~750–950 °C
- Status
- Demonstration
Real-world examples
- • X-energy Xe-100
- • China HTR-PM
- • Project Pele microreactor
Strengths
- + Very high outlet temperature (industrial heat)
- + TRISO fuel is meltdown-resistant
- + Passive safety
Trade-offs
- – Graphite handling
- – Lower power density
- – Fuel cost