ML24047A012
| ML24047A012 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 02/22/2024 |
| From: | Towell R NRC/OCM |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML24011A053 | List: |
| References | |
| M240222A | |
| Download: ML24047A012 (1) | |
Text
Role of RTRs in the development of advanced reactor technologies by Dr. Rusty Towell, NEXT Lab Director February 22, 2024
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© 2024 Abilene Christian University N uclear E nergy e X perimental T esting 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 2
future leaders in nuclear science and engineering. © 2024 Abilene Christian University Natura Resources Research Alliance
2016 - NEXT Lab established at ACU 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: 2026 - MSRR begins operations
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© 2024 Abilene Christian University M olten S alt R esearch R eactor safety
- Layered enclosures:
- Salt
- Primary fueled salt loop
- Reactor Thermal RTMS Management System (RTMS)
- Reactor Enclosure
- Reactor Cell Reactor
- Low pressure system Enclosure
- Shutdown via drain of salt from core
- Passive heat removal during shutdown
© 2024 Abilene Christian University MSRR comparison to M olten S alt R eactor E xperiment
Shared concepts Simplified concepts
- Same Salt and Fuel Form: UF 4, LiF -BeF 2
- 19.75% instead of 33% 235 U
- Loop design
- 1 MWth instead of 8 -10 MWth
- Graphite moderator
- SS -316 instead of Hastelloy -N
- Drain tank
- No freeze valve, shut down via simple
- Trench -based radiation protection drain
- Short expected lifetime
- Control rods not safety related
- Low pressure
- No water
© 2024 Abilene Christian University
- 28,000 ft 2 fa c i l i t y
- 6, 000 ft 2 Research Bay
- Specialty Research Labs
- Offices
- Designed as advanced re a c tor test bed.
- Completed : 2023
Gayle and Max Dillard Science and Engineering Research Center 6
© 2024 Abi l ene Chri sti an Uni vers i ty Role of RTR in development of Advanced Reactor Technologies
- Decrease risks for advanced reactor deployment
- Regulatory Risk
- Demonstrate NRCs ability to license a non -LW R
- Collect data needed to support the licensing of commercial non -LW R Needed to move beyond
- Provide learning opportunities for the NRC to review new technologies minimum amount of
- Collect data on fuel behavior regulation of research
- Collect data on materials performance in nuclear environmen t reactors.
- Supply Chain Risks
- Demonstrate supply chain capabilities
- Increase the Technical Readiness Level of supporting technologies
- Improve cost certainty for new deployments
- Tr a i nanuclear qualified work force
- Operators, regulators, designers,
- Demonstrate the ability of Advanced Reactors to be multi -functional
- Efficiently produce electricity, but also high process heat, isotope generation,
Ø Accomplish all these with lower risks (source term)7
© 2024 Abilene Christian University Accelerating advanced reactor demonstration & deployment
ACU SERC
8 THANK YOU acu.edu /NEXT
May 24, 2021 NEXT Summer Orientation 2021 9