MGX Minerals Inc has further updated on its nuclear fuel activities, saying it has now identified the best candidate as a standardized fuel for small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) market.
The materials and technology group has been analyzing an internal and external design study of fuel for use in land energy and long-range space flights.
In a statement, MGX revealed that it has now "determined that a TRIstructural-ISOtropic particle fuel (TRISO) pellet provides the best candidate for a standardized fuel for the SMR market".
"The preferred feedstock for this fuel type pellet is a high assay, low enriched uranium feedstock due to the inherent cost and supply chain benefits," it added.
READ: MGX Minerals commences design study of small modular nuclear reactor fuel for electric power and long-range space flight
The company said it is now targeting a standardized uranium kernel of approximately 0.5 mm, within graphite and silica layers of refractory type material made to withstand extreme heat.
"A low enriched fuel may not provide the sufficient performance for advanced optimized space travel of approximately 100,000 mph (the equivalent of reaching Mars in 58 days), resulting in two distinctly separate standardized TRISO fuel markets that overlap in stable energy supply, land or space, but not nuclear propulsion requirements," added MGX Minerals.
The Vancouver-based company is a diversified Canadian resource and technology company with interests in advanced metals, industrial minerals, and energy technologies.
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