Part 2 of 3 Parts (Please read Part 1 first)
Project 1
HolosGen, LLC received $2,278,200 for their work on a Transportable Modular Reactor by Balance of Plant Elimination.
The purpose of this project is the development of a gas cooled nuclear reactor which is transportable. The reactor would be what is called “load following” meaning that the output of the reactor can be changed to match the demands of the grid. This addressed one of the chief complaints about the current generation of nuclear reactors. They were designed and built to produce a certain amount of power constantly. They can be modified to allow load following but it is expensive to do.
These new reactors will be simpler to construct and can be packaged in standard shipping containers which will make them highly transportable and cheaper that current power reactors. The researchers are going to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach by using multi-physics modeling and simulation tools. They will validate the computer models by constructing and testing a non-nuclear prototype.
Project 2
North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC will receive $3,386,834 for the Development of a Nearly Autonomous Management and Control System for Advanced Reactors
The purpose of this project is the development of a highly autonomous and automated management and control system for advanced nuclear reactors. The new system they are developing will use artificial intelligence and machine learning to continuously monitor data which can be used to predict future plant status. The system will be able to provide suggestions to plant operators with respect to control of the reactor. The hope is that this system will be able to reduce the size of operational staff needed to manage the plant through new instrumentation, better operator training and “smart” procedures. This will also reduce the cost of managing and maintaining nuclear power plants.
Project 3
State University of New York at Buffalo in Amherst, NY will receive $1,443,635 for Reducing Overnight Capital Cost of Advanced Reactors Using Equipment-based Seismic Protective Technologies.
The purpose of this project is to lower the complexity and cost of nuclear power plants by integrating seismic protection systems into the development of advanced reactor buildings and their supporting structures. Every nuclear power plant has to incorporate protections against earthquakes. In the current generation of nuclear power plants, these seismic protections are made of large components which are usually custom made for each new plant. The researchers are working to develop standardized equipment which can be optimized for individual plants and make their construction simpler and cheaper.
Project 4
Terrestrial Energy USA, Inc. in New York, NY will receive $3,150,000 for their work on Magnetically Suspended Canned Rotor Pumps for the Integral Molten Salt Reactor.
The purpose of this project is to develop a novel magnetically suspended circulation pump for molten salt reactors. This will result in the improvement of plant performance, increased pump lifetime, and the reduction of costs. Today, cantilever type pumps are used in the harsh environment of molten salt reactors. The new pumps that are being designed by the researchers will be self-contained. They do not require the vulnerable mechanical seals that are a problem for current pumps. The new pumps will be strong enough to survive the reactor core’s seven-year operating lifetimes. The researchers will construct and test prototypes.
Please read Part 2