Energy Secretary Steven Chu last week announced the department has awarded a total of approximately $40 million to two teams–one led by Westinghouse Electric Co. and the other by General Atomics–for conceptual design and planning work for the so-called Next Generation Nuclear Plant, an advanced high-temperature, gas-cooled reactor.
DoE said the development work will help the Obama administration decide whether to proceed with plans to build a prototype facility to demonstrate new reactor technology that can produce electricity as well as process heat for energy-intensive industrial operations–such as petrochemical producers–so they can reduce their carbon dioxide emissions.
The high-temperature reactors also are seen as attractive for efficient production of hydrogen, which is needed for fuel cells.
While offering advanced passive safety features, high-temperature, gas-cooled reactors have been difficult to develop because of their high operating temperatures, which require specially-made reactor components to ensure durability and reliability.
The Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) program, which is managed by the department’s Idaho National Laboratory, attracted proposals by four companies, also including Entergy and Areva.
The Westinghouse team will pursue the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor concept with Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure Inc., Toshiba, Doosan, Technology Insights and M-Tech Industrial (PTY) Ltd. The pebble bed reactor, which has been the subject of previous research and development in Germany and South Africa, utilizes a bed of small fuel balls in its design.
The team led by General Atomics will research helium-cooled modular reactors and also includes General Dynamics Electric Boat Division [GD], URS Washington Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and Fuji Electric Systems.
The NGNP project is being conducted in two phases, with Phase 1 comprising research and development, conceptual design and development of licensing requirements. The two teams selected for funding will work up cost and schedule estimates for a demonstration project and a business plan for Phase 2.
Phase 2 would entail detailed design, license review and construction of a demonstration plant.
DoE will use information from its Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee along with data developed in Phase 1 to determine whether to proceed to Phase 2.