Natura Resources, an advanced nuclear reactor developer focused on liquid-fueled molten salt technology, announced progress in its reactor physics and safety analysis through a high-performance computing collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin. The work leverages supercomputing resources at the Texas Advanced Computing Center to model the fundamental behavior of the company’s reactor design as it moves toward commercialization.
The simulations focus on neutron behavior within the liquid fuel salt, which sustains the nuclear fission chain reaction. By using advanced computational tools, researchers and graduate students are able to evaluate reactor performance, safety characteristics, and operational strategies with greater precision.
According to the company, these modeling efforts support all phases of development, including early design optimization, regulatory approval processes, and long-term operational planning. The research has already contributed to the construction application for Natura’s demonstration reactor and helped secure approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The simulations also play a key role in analyzing the reactor’s inherent safety features, including mechanisms that automatically slow the nuclear reaction under changing operating conditions. Natura said the ability to run detailed, high-powered simulations improves confidence in how the reactor will perform across a range of scenarios.
The company emphasized that rigorous reactor physics modeling underpins critical decisions across safety analysis, materials selection, fuel strategy, and licensing. Natura is developing small modular reactors designed to provide reliable energy, clean water, and medical isotopes, with a focus on enhanced safety and reduced nuclear waste.
KEY QUOTES
“By leveraging TACC’s supercomputers and experts, we’re able to model the core physics that governs reactor performance, safety characteristics, and operational strategy. These simulations support the technical foundations essential to our progress in developing our commercial-scale reactor.”
Dr. Jonathan Scherr, Director Of Nuclear Systems At Natura Resources
“The UT research team develops and uses predictive computer codes to model the reactor performance, which was used to support the construction application for Natura’s demonstration reactor and obtain Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval.”
Dr. Kevin Clarno, Associate Professor At The University Of Texas At Austin
