The Nuclear Graphite Research Group of The University of Manchester are hosting a short course in Nuclear Graphite for High Temperature Gas Reactors (HTGRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs).

As part of the UK’s transition to a low carbon economy, the UK Government is committed to delivering new and advanced nuclear power and has stated its preference for HTGRs and AMRs. HTGRs and numerous AMR designs use graphite in the reactor core, where it acts as a neutron moderator/reflector, as well as structural components. Graphite plays a pivotal role in the reactor and can dictate the operational lifetime of a reactor. Thus, it is essential that the designer, operators, and regulators of HTGRs and AMRs have an understanding of how the graphite and graphite components within the reactor core will behave both during reactor operation and under accident scenarios.

The course aims to introduce professionals to an overview of nuclear graphite with a focus on graphite’s future use in HTGR and AMR environments. We will draw on historical aspects of high temperature materials reactors programmes as well as recent experience, insight, and research gained over the past 60 years of reactor civil operation.