RC Certifies First U.S. Small Modular Reactor Design

[crimsonaudio]

The design is an advanced light-water SMR with each power module capable of generating 50 megawatts of emissions-free electricity.

NuScale’s VOYGR™ SMR power plant can house up to 12 factory-built power modules that are about a third of the size of a large-scale reactor. Each power module leverages natural processes, such as convection and gravity, to passively cool the reactor without additional water, power, or even operator action.

NRC Certifies First U.S. Small Modular Reactor Design

NuScale power module becomes the first SMR design certified by the NRC.

www.energy.gov

 

[jabcmb]

Smaller footprint (as opposed to large baseload units) will produce some efficiencies but I would be skeptical how efficient small units could be. NRC is not going to drop the requirements for redundant safety systems, which are largely influenced by site specific considerations—geology, etc. But hey, we bought the sales pitch on the Westinghouse AP1000 units and their “simplified, innovative, and efficient approach“ to power production. We can do nuclear power and probably should, but it will always cost more than your best guess and take longer to bring online than the most conservative schedule you can cobble together.

 

[BamaFlum]

Nuclear is the future if people really want cleaner energy. Wind and solar just aren’t reliable and don’t have the capacity for today’s needs.

 

[Bamaro]

Nuclear is the future if people really want cleaner energy. Wind and solar just aren’t reliable and don’t have the capacity for today’s needs.

Fission is a stop gap measure until fusion can be developed.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Fission is a stop gap measure until fusion can be developed.

And we're likely still decades away from fusion reactors.

Nuclear seems like a no-brainer to me - the risks are far outweighed by the rewards, imo. But people fear radiation like it's the boogeyman, likely because they've not taken the time to really understand it.

 

[BamaFlum]

 

[AUDub]

I've discussed this blind spot we have for the cost of fossil fuel waste here in the past.

Paper; Global Warming "The Biggest Science Scandal Ever"

Audub, who you are right. It's impossible to make a good case to someone whose mind is made up already. I don't feel bad about that. It is what it is. You have your arguments and counter arguments neatly lined up and citations organized (probably by category). I get it. You are obsessed. I go...

www.tidefans.com

 

[JDCrimson]

This seems so much simpler opportunity to convert existing transportation energy than expanding an unstable electric grid...

Capturing Exhaust