Westinghouse designs eVincimicroreactor to last 8 years before refueling
Are nuclear reactors the future of energy transition? (Credit: Westinghouse)Unlike typical nuclear plants, the eVinci microreactor needs no waterfor cooling, is easy to install and works like a battery with an eight-yearlifespan. The reactor stays at a stable temperature by deploying a Passive HeatRemoval System in addition to Westinghouse's heat pipe technology.
Sarfo Ashong-Listowell, Published 12/27/2023 ...
Westinghouse Electric Corporation isbuilding a 5MWe micro-modular nuclear reactor that operates without a watercoolant system. The Pittsburgh company boasts that the eVinci microreactor canprovide nuclear power for eight or more years before it runs out of juice.
As the era of AI unfolds, tech companies are turning to nuclearpower for their energy needs. However, getting a nuclear power plant often comes with one caveat: having to build it on-site, which can take years. Small modular microreactors attempt to solve this problem by being somewhat portable and easier to set up. Still, the need for a water coolant system makes the reactor prone to corrosion and erosion – which definitely shouldn't be taken lightly.
A nuclear radiation detector could mitigate these risks, but you cannot be too safe when it comes to nuclear power. This is where the simplicity of the eVinci microreactor comes handy. By eliminating the water coolant system, the reactor is easier to install and much safer.
Excess heat from the reactor core is removed via heat pipe technology. (Source: Westinghouse)
The heat exchanger unit contains heat pipes to radiate heat away from the reactor (Source: Westinghouse)Westinghouse is touting its heat pipe technology as a way to simplify the components of the reactor. The reactor also employs a Passive Heat Removal System (PHS) to remove heat via convection and radiation. All these heat transfer systems eliminate the need for a proprietary coolant system.
The self-regulating heat pipestransfer heat generated by the temperature stable TRISO fuel away from thecore. Not only does this eliminate the need for water in the operations of thereactor, it also eliminates high pressures in the system.
These are not just baseless claims.Recently, Westinghouse successfully conducted heat from a nuclear reactor usinga 12-foot (3.6m) long nuclear grade heat pipe without the need for a coolantsystem. With this new technology, the company claims to enable prototypic lifetesting at operational temperatures. This also makes it possible to deploynuclear power at remote locations where water is scarce.
The eVinci microreactor is deployed completely above ground with minimal construction. (Source: Westinghouse)A "nuclear battery"
The strengths of the eVincimicroreactor lie in its extreme portability and ease of deployment. It can becarried by a truck and rapidly installed above ground with minimalconstruction. And as the reactor doesn't require refueling, Westinghouse ispromoting it as a "nuclear battery", capable of delivering 5MWe foreight or more years.
Emissions-free power for nearly adecade from a nuclear reactor is as futuristic as this tech can get. Exceptthat it can't arrive soon enough: the first eVinci microreactor isn't expectedtill 2029.
Source(s)
Source: Westinghouse
