Unlike the current generation of light - water nuclear reactors, PRISM uses metallic fuel, such as an alloy of zirconium, uranium, and plutonium, and PRISM's fuel rods sit in
a bath of a liquid metal — sodium — at atmospheric pressure, which ensures that the transfer of heat from the metal fuel to the liquid sodium coolant is extremely efficient.
Not exact matches
Metal surface treatment processes such as degreasing, acid pickling, alloy
baths or lacquering generate large amounts
of toxic
liquid wastes.
All other sodium reactors use oxide fuels, while PRISM uses a
metal fuel, an alloy
of zirconium, uranium, and plutonium, and the fuel rods sit in a
bath of liquid sodium at atmospheric pressure.