ML22336A109

M221208: Slides/Supporting Presentation Material - R. Towell - Overview of Advanced Reactor Fuel Activities

ML22336A109
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Issue date:	12/08/2022
From:	NRC/OCM
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M221208
Download: ML22336A109 (9)

Text

Perspectives on Molten Salt Fuel Design For the ACU Molten Salt Research Reactor by Dr. Rusty Towell NEXT Lab Director December 8, 2022 1

Abilene Christian University

• ACUs mission is to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.

• Main Campus in Abilene, Texas population 123,000

• Fall 2022 marks the fifth consecutive year for a record number of students enrolling at ACU: 5,731 students.

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Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing Lab The mission of ACUs NEXT Lab is to provide global solutions to the worlds need for energy, water and medical isotopes by advancing the technology of molten salt reactors while educating 3

future leaders in nuclear science and engineering.

2016 - NEXT Lab established 2020 - First-of-a-kind research alliance established to design, license and build Molten Salt Research Reactor 2022 - Construction Permit application submitted to the NRC and accepted for review.

Goal: 2025 - MSRR goes critical 4

Molten Salt Research Reactor MSRE shared concepts

• UF4 LiF-BeF2 fuel

• Loop design

• Graphite moderator

• Drain tank shut down system

• Trench-based radiation shielding

• 5-years of full-power operation MSRR simplified concepts

• 19.75% instead of 33% 235U

• 1 MWth instead of 8-10 MWth

• SS-316 instead of Hastelloy-N

• No freeze valve

• Utilizing 50 years of technology advancement 5

SCIENCE & ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER (SERC)

• 28,000 ft2

• Scheduled Completion - 3rd Qtr 2023

• A multi-purpose building constructed before a CP is issued that could later house the MSRR pursuant to 10 CFR 50.10(a)(2)(x).

Section view of SERC REACTOR BAY DESIGN FEATURES

• 50 ft tall

• 40-ton crane

• 80 ft long x 15 ft wide x 25 ft deep research reactor trench SERC Progress - 10/31/2022

MSRR Fuel Needs

• 500 kg HALEU in UF4 form DOE Programmatic Letter of Support mixed in FLiBe salt

• Agreement with DOE to be included in their Research Reactor Infrastructure Program

• Continued discussions to confirm source, fuel qualification plan, transport and disposal.

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Value of MSRR to Advanced Reactor Community

• As the only advanced university research reactor submitted to the NRC, the MSRR will:

• Demonstrate ability to license MS reactors

• Collect data to support MS reactor designs and licenses

• Support commercial MS reactor deployment

• The MSRR will provide value to DOE, NRC, and commercial vendors.

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THANK YOU acunex tlab.org May 24, 2021 NEXT Summer Orientation 2021 9