Introducing

Traveling–Wave Reactors
The Future of Nuclear Energy
Intellectual Ventures has launched an effort to design nuclear energy reactors that improve on those in operation today. Known
as TerraPower, the project has produced preliminary designs for a new class of nuclear reactor, called a Traveling-Wave Reactor
(TWR). The TWR can run for 50 to 100 years without refueling or removing any used fuel from the reactor. By greatly
simplifying the nuclear fuel cycle, TWRs could improve the cost, safety, social acceptability, and long-term sustainability of
nuclear energy as a source of emissions-free electricity.

The Evolution of the Traveling-Wave Concept

1958 1979 1996 2000 Early 2000s 2006

Savelii M. Feinberg Michael J. Driscoll and Edward Teller, Lowell Wood (now Hugo van Hiroshi Sekimoto Intellectual Ventures
proposes a “breed- others at MIT further at Intellectual Ventures), and Dam publishes begins a series of begins detailed physics
burn” reactor in which evaluate breed-burn others at Lawrence Livermore mathematical analyses conceptual studies of and engineering studies
unenriched fuel is reactor ideas Lab detail ways to make breed- of waves of fission various kinds of TWRs of the feasibility, cost,
moved around the core burn waves travel through a moving inside and features of various
to sustain fission stationary fuel supply nuclear fuels TWR designs

The Science Many Shapes and Sizes

Nuclear power plants produce electricity from the heat TerraPower’s scientists and engineers are investigating a
generated when big and unstable atoms, such as plutonium wide range of designs for TWRs. Small, modular units that
and the rare form of ura­nium called U-235, split apart into generate 100 megawatts of electricity may be feasible and
smaller atoms. Each time a big atom splits (or “fissions”), it could fit the needs of emerging markets. Conceptual designs
releases fast-moving neutrons and other sub­atomic particles for gigawatt-scale reactors, big enough to power a city and
that leads to a chain reaction. similar in outward appearance to existing plants, are well
underway. And TerraPower is studying and simulating
A nuclear reactor produces and controls the release of many other varieties. At Intellectual Ventures, the process of
energy from splitting atoms of certain elements. Nuclear invention continues every day.
electricity plants today use fuel made from natural
urani­um that has been enriched. The TWR, in contrast,
initially contains only a small igniter of fissile fuel, which Breeding Fissile Fuel Just Where It Is Needed
is used to kick off the chain reaction. The wave of fis­sion
Depleted uranium is converted from its normal fertile form into fissile plutonium
would move slowly through the core, splitting many more in the region just ahead of the burning wave.
of the fuel atoms than a conventional reactor would. 2 The atom quickly decays
into a form of neptunium
A TWR reactor core would be filled with fuel that is ins that is also unstable.
5 m
made out of atoms that are big but not unstable enough to 1 An atom of fertile 23
.
cause a chain reaction on their own. The fuel could be de­ uranium captures a
pleted uranium, for example, which is the common U-238 fast-moving neutron,
form of the element that is currently set aside as waste when which converts the
U-235 is taken out of natural uranium at enrichment plants. uranium to a heavier,
unstable form.
2.35 Days

+
U
A Simpler, Safer Fuel Cycle Neutron +
Unlike light water reactors, the TWR can theoretically run
forever without ever needing any additional enriched uranium
after its startup period. This fleet could supply the world’s needs 3 The plutonium fissions into
smaller atoms, releasing lots of
for energy for thousands of years without any need for chemical Pu
reprocessing of the used fuel. This ability is a major advance in
energy and several neutrons,
some of which continue the
4 The neptunium
eventually decays into an
reducing the inherent risks of weapons material proliferation. chain reaction. atom of fissile plutonium.
Fission
products

For press inquiries: TerraPowerInfo@intven.com