Great Lakes Graphite Provides Samples for Pebble Bed ReactorNEWS Great Lakes Graphite Provides Samples for Pebble Bed Reactor Qualification
High Purity Micronized Graphite Sent to X-energy for the Xe-100 Fuel Development
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Dec. 14, 2016) - Great Lakes Graphite Inc. ("GLK" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:GLK) (OTC PINK:GLKIF) (FRANKFURT:8GL) today announces that the Company has recently provided X Energy, LLC ("X-energy") with samples of high purity micronized graphite for manufacturing research and qualification testing. High purity graphite is used to manufacture nuclear fuel compacts ("pebbles") that are a defining feature of X-energy's High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor: the Xe-100.
Great Lakes Graphite CEO Paul Gorman commented, "We were contacted by X-energy recently, who requested product samples for Xe-100 pebble fuel manufacturing research. We are engaged with a number of potential customers now who are in the process of determining the suitability of our high purity micronized graphite for use in high technology applications that have the most stringent quality and performance requirements."
The design for the Xe-100 specifies over 170,000 pebbles per reactor. Each 60-mm diameter pebble contains a core of uranium pellets, surrounded by a layer of graphite. The graphite layer is composed of both natural and synthetic graphites, in addition to a resin binder. Great Lakes Graphite has provided samples of three products to X-energy which will be evaluated as part of their pebble manufacturing supply chain initiative.
"The commercialization of our Xe-100 reactor depends on many components, " said X-energy Vice President for Business Development Jeff Harper. "The potential of working with Great Lakes on graphite matrix is very exciting as X-energy moves toward deployment of our safe and economical clean energy source."
About X Energy, LLC: X-energy is dedicated to developing transformational nuclear energy solutions that change the world. The company is designing the Xe-100, an advanced nuclear reactor that will expand nuclear power into new markets in increments of approximately 74MWe. The Xe-100 series is designed to be small, simple and affordable. Key attributes of the design are that it requires less time to construct, with factory-produced components, and will be "walk-away" safe without operator intervention during loss of coolant conditions. In January 2016, X-energy was awarded a five-year US Department of Energy Advanced Reactor Concept Cooperative Agreement. The Agreement focuses on furtherance of reactor design, fuel development, and initial licensing activities. X-energy is based in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Twitter: @xenergynuclear; Facebook: facebook.com/xenergynuclear, www.x-energy.com.
About Great Lakes Graphite: Great Lakes Graphite Inc. is an industrial minerals company focused on bringing value-added carbon products to a well-defined market.