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Oklo’s Isotope Test Reactor achieves criticality
Oklo’s Groves Isotope Test Reactor became the fifth Department of Energy–authorized reactor to achieve criticality under the agency’s authorization process, it was announced earlier today.
Criticality was reached at 9:19 p.m. (EDT) on Wednesday at the company’s Groves facility in Lockhart, Texas, according to the DOE.
Technical Session|Panel|Sponsored by THD
Friday, December 3, 2021|10:00–11:45AM EST |Columbia 4
Session Chair:
Elia Merzari
Session Organizer:
Alternate Chair:
Stephen M. Bajorek
Student Assistant:
Tri Nguyen
In recent years there has been an increased interest in advanced reactors in the United States. Several concepts are being proposed by multiple vendors and start-ups, with an accelerated pathway to market. In particular, DOE has recently issued two awards aimed at deploying demonstration reactors and several more aimed at accelerating current research activities. An important activity related to commercialization of these concepts is licensing and the overall role of the regulator. Furthermore, central to licensing and safety analysis is the understanding of thermal-hydraulics phenomena, which present considerable differences compared to light-water reactors. In this panel we will address current thermal-hydraulic issues in the licensing of advanced reactor concepts and ongoing research on this topic.
Chris Lohse
INL
Robert Martin
BWXT
Brandon Haugh
Kairos Power LLC
John Luxat
McMaster University
Stephen Bajorek
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
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