A U-M research team led by Associate Professor Brendan Kochunas has developed a physics-based control algorithm that allows nuclear microreactors to autonomously adjust power output. Published in Progress in Nuclear Energy, the system achieved just 0.234% error in simulations, enabling reactors to safely and efficiently “load follow” real-time energy demand. This breakthrough could make compact, portable reactors viable for remote areas, disaster zones, and ships—advancing the future of clean, carbon-free energy.
