Nuclear Power - Modular Nuclear Reactors

Public policy and social push is currently calling for forms of electricity production that need to fit into a certain number of requirements:

(1. It must be reliable,
(2. It must be renewable, or comparable,
(3. It must be safe,
(4. It must be clean.

The ideas of how to achieve this ideal form of electricity production range from ways of boiling water (Nuclear, Geothermal, Natural Gas, anything that involves a boiler system) to using natural forces (Wind Power, Hyrdo Power), all in an effort to most efficiently do one thing; spin a turbine. Electricity Production

Fig. 1:  Seattle, Washington

has a huge impact upon a number of aspects within today's society, making it a important priority for the engineers to focus on.  While Nuclear Power has been ridiculed for many years for negatives seen through events such as the Chernobyl melt down (more information at , or more recently, the Fukishima pressure explosions, I would argue that these events actually show the strength for the case of Nuclear Power.  That topic, however, is reserved for another time.  For a simple background on how a nuclear reactor works, see the video on the this webpage:  NuScale Power Reactor.

There is a growing idea within the nuclear power industry regarding the use of much smaller, use-specific, modular nuclear reactors.  These reactors could be used in single use situations, such as factory power plants or base load electricity for metropolitan utilities.  Similar, modern forms of these reactors may be seen in the nuclear systems that propel numerous military ships.  Those systems, however, are designed to be more permanent, and are generally classified.  These modular systems are designed to be built in a factory and then shipped to the intended client.  They are designed to be used in tandem to meet the needed electricity production for the application.

I was first introduced to the idea while watching a TED talk video featuring a then 17 year old scientist named Taylor Wilson.  This video is available here: Taylor Wilson: My Radical Plan for Small Nuclear Fission Reactors.  In the talk, Wilson describes a simplistic design of a modular nuclear reactor that would

Fig. 2:  Taylor Wilson and his
simple Nuclear Reactor.

use a particular type of Uranium called Thorium.  Coupled with the set up of his reactors, this fuel would have a high burnoff, thus eliminating a large portion of the spent fuel seen by the current, typical nuclear installations.  It would also be a more stable core, as the high pressures usually associated with nuclear reactors would not be present.

After researching, I found an article from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME - Small Modular Nuclear Reactors, regarding two companies that are currently working with the Department of Energy on this idea.  One company, Babcock & Wilcox, produced a video showing the construction of a modular nuclear reactor installation, which can be found here: B&W mPower Reactor Video.  These reactors may see production 2022.  More information is available at:  B&W mPower Reactor Webpage.  Another company, NuScale, has just recently started its partnership with the Department of Energy, and has set the goal for production by 2025.  More info on this reactor is available through the first link in this blog.

One of the main positive outcomes of pursuing modular reactors versus typical reactors is the cost and hassle of construction and certification.  Numerous reactor projects across the United States have been halted due

Fig. 3:  Boeing Assembly Line.

to delays in construction and certification.  Instead of designing and building a different reactor for each installation, modular reactors would unify design schemes.  This can be compared to building a car on an assembly line and then selling it to the customer versus going to a customer's home, and building the car in their garage.  Streamlining these production process allows for more resources to go towards Research and Development, and less being wasted on endless paper work and legality issues.

A major disadvantage of Nuclear Power in general is proliferation, or the spread of radiation.  This could happen through either something occurring during power production, or leakage of spent fuel.  The use of these reactors would have to be monitored heavily, especially within the private sector.  While this is already occurring with the current reactors, this idea would call for more reactors in more areas.  This makes control of the source of energy an issue that would have to be addressed.

Overall, after learning more about the idea of a modular nuclear reactor, I believe they should be invested in and progressed to become a key element in our energy solution.  While it may not hold each societal  requirement perfect, Nuclear Power is becoming a better choice when compared with other sources.

Fig. 1:  Wikimedia Commons, Seattle, Washington.
Fig. 2:  TED Conferences, LLC, Taylor Wilson - My Radical Plan for Small Nuclear Reactors.
Fig. 3:  Wikimedia Commons, Boeing 747-8 Assembly Line.