SUMMARY

This thesis presents the pre-conceptual computational and economic analysis of a high-temperature (>1300 K), ultra-small (<10 MWe) modular reactor with a coupled high-efficiency (>50% ) thermophotovoltaic (TPV) power block. Inspired by decreasing costs in TPV manufacturing, the integration of the TPV power block would allow for improved electrification efficiency over the heat cycles of traditional nuclear power plants. Further, by not requiring a pressure vessel and coolant loops, a USMR powered plant would sport significantly lower capital costs and be impervious to many of the major accident scenarios of typical plants.