Passive Safety
Passive safety uses natural forces like gravity, convection, and stored energy for cooling without pumps, valves, or AC power.
Generation III+ reactors like AP1000 employ passive residual heat removal via heat exchangers in containment. Passive systems achieve 72-hour coping without operator action. NRC classifies as safety-related if failure affects public health.
Why it matters now
Passive safety enables walk-away SMRs for 2025-2026 remote data center sites, reducing licensing hurdles and HALEU supply chain risks via simplified designs.