China is reportedly developing miniature nuclear reactors and hopes to have them within five years, says the South China Morning Post. The reactors, with development is partially funded by the Chinese military, would be ideal for powering military bases on remote islands.

According to the Morning Post, the hedianbao, or "portable nuclear battery pack," is cooled by lead and will fit inside a shipping container 6.1 meters long by 2.6 meters high. The hedianbao will generate up to 10 megawatts, enough energy to power 50,000 households, and could run for decades without refueling.

The design is similar to the 155 megawatt-producing OK-550 and BM-40A nuclear reactors that powered the Alfa -class submarines of the Soviet Navy. Both reactors were what are called lead-cooled fast reactors , using highly enriched uranium as nuclear fuel. Liquid lead was used to cool the reactor and provide a level of safety, as lead blocks dangerous gamma rays from escaping.

The Chinese portable reactor appears to be a downscaled version of these reactors. China's extensive nationwide electrical grid makes the use of this reactor anywhere within the country's borders unlikely. Where wires don't already exist, independent power plants can run—so long as they can rely on regular shipments of coal or natural gas.

Chinese military base under construction on Fiery Cross Reef, South China Sea.

That's what makes the new reactor so interesting. The reactor would more likely be used in a really, really off the grid location, such China's new military bases in the South China Sea . Advanced radars, military airfields, direction-finding equipment, and even surface to air missile systems have all been spotted on the islands, all of which are hungry for electrical power.

Beijing's bases are hosted on tiny, fake "islands" built up from the ocean floor by dredging sediment. Space is at a premium, and a nuclear reactor that has the footprint of a shipping container is an ideal solution for a remote base's energy needs. The self-contained nature of the reactor means it doesn't need shipments of fuel that might not be available in wartime.

Less than ideal, however, is the prospect of a nuclear accident in some of the most pristine waters in the world, home to rich fishing grounds and heavily trafficked by commercial shipping. As the Fukushima Daiichi disaster reminds us, safety is paramount in nuclear reactors.

Source: South China Morning Post

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