Mirion Technologies announced a strategic design contract with X-Energy Reactor Company, LLC (X-energy). As per the agreement, Mirion will provide detailed design support for the Burn Up Measurement System (BUMS), a vital system for the fuel cycle of the Xe-100 high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR). This partnership aligns with Mirion?s commitment to the global pursuit of sustainable, low-carbon energy solutions and to empowering innovation that improves the human condition.

The Xe-100 Burn Up Measurement System (BUMS) is an important element of the online reactor?s fuel handling system that supports X-energy?s groundbreaking technology. Composed of high-purity Germanium (HPGe) detectors to ensure the highest degree of accuracy, the BUMS is designed to maximize nuclear fuel utilization, making the system more productive while minimizing waste. The system uniquely measures key gamma indicators to determine the level of burn-up, the initial enrichment of the fuel, and the plutonium/uranium (Pu/U) content in each fuel pebble being circulated through the reactor.

-energy and Mirion are in the process of developing a BUMS system with a Mirion HPGe detector. To support the defense and in-depth strategy of the Xe-100 and fuel handling system, the BUMS will require a qualification process to show that it can operate under the conditions and circumstances that are required.