Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico is seeking commercial partners for a patented fire mitigation technology designed to improve safety in advanced heat-pipe nuclear reactors, according to a recent technology licensing notice.
Responses are due Dec. 19, 2026, according to the Department of Energy’s June 19 notice.
The technology is intended to address one of the most significant safety challenges associated with alkali metal-cooled microreactors: the risk of fires involving sodium, potassium and other reactive metals used in heat-transfer systems.
The system integrates fire detection, suppression and reactor shutdown functions directly into a reactor’s heat pipes, which normally transfer heat from the core to a power conversion system, according to the notice. Under normal operating conditions, sensors monitor temperatures and pressures throughout the reactor. If abnormal conditions indicative of a fire are detected, a controller automatically triggers the release of fire suppressants into the heat pipes and surrounding chambers.
If conditions worsen, additional suppression measures are activated, including the evacuation of working fluid from the heat pipe and the release of inert gas into chambers surrounding the heat exchanger interface. The design also incorporates a phase-change material that serves as both a thermal energy storage medium and a fire retardant.
As an additional safety feature, the reactor can be configured to release neutron-absorbing materials, such as boron compounds or cadmium, into the core region during a fire, according to the notice. The absorbers reduce core reactivity and assist in shutting down the reactor, providing what the laboratory describes as a coupled fire-suppression and reactor-shutdown response.
According to the notice, the technology is compatible with heat pipe-cooled microreactors and other advanced reactor systems intended for remote, unattended or space-constrained deployments. Potential applications include military installations, Arctic power systems, industrial heat production, maritime propulsion concepts and lunar surface power systems.
The technology is currently at Technology Readiness Level 3, indicating proof-of-concept development. Los Alamos is offering the invention for exclusive or nonexclusive licensing through its technology transfer program.