Kairos project moves ahead at Oak Ridge
A reactor vessel has been installed by Kairos Power for its third Engineering Test Unit (ETU 3.0) at the company’s campus in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
“The installation of our third ETU reactor vessel marks a significant moment on our commercial development pathway,” Edward Blandford, Kairos cofounder and chief technology officer, said on July 15. “ETU 3.0 will serve an important mission as a testing and training platform to ensure safe and efficient operation of the Hermes reactor. But, more broadly, the expertise and capabilities we gain from the ETU program will help pave the way to successfully deploy Kairos Power’s commercial fleet.”
Construction team members collaborated to install the reactor vessel for the ETU 3.0. (Photo: Kairos Power)
The work: The installation of the 14-foot-tall ETU 3.0 vessel is a construction milestone for the nonnuclear reactor mock-up, according to the company. The ETU 3.0 facility is being built around the reactor vessel, an order of construction that has allowed the vessel to be moved into position before the roof and other elements are in place.
The work to build the facility, done by Barnard Construction, will serve as a proving ground to refine civil construction methods and quality assurance procedures for the Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor, currently under construction at the same site.
The agreement: Kairos noted that the ETU 3.0 vessel installation is a contract milestone under its agreement with the Department of Energy for up to $303 million in risk-reduction funding through the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). Under the agreement, Kairos receives fixed, performance-based payments from the DOE upon demonstrating the completion of predetermined project milestones.
“Kairos Power’s novel contract with DOE allows us to remain agile while demonstrating continued progress as a responsible steward of public funding,” said Kairos CEO and cofounder Mike Laufer. “ARDP support is helping us to move quickly through progressively sophisticated iterations, gaining essential learning that will enable commercial deployment of our advanced reactor technology on a meaningful timeline.”
Fabrication: The ETU 3.0 reactor vessel was fashioned in partnership with Cambridge Vacuum Engineering (CVE) and the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) using electron beam welding (EBW) technology. EBW produces high-quality welds at least an order of magnitude faster than conventional arc welding, according to Kairos. “Large demonstrations like the ETU 3.0 reactor vessel are vital for effectively bringing advanced manufacturing methods into industry, offering a holistic solution for fabricating complex, large-scale components,” said AMRC interim CEO Ben Morgan.
“The collaboration with Kairos Power, CVE, and the AMRC underscores the transformative potential of electron beam welding in advanced manufacturing,” said CVE managing director Bob Nicolson. “The technology scales well to the precise and demanding requirements of nuclear construction, and this partnership represents a significant step forward in SMR commercialization.”
Multi-purposed: In addition to piloting new construction methods and manufacturing processes, ETU 3.0 will support the Hermes reactor as an operator training center and test platform for remote handling and maintenance equipment. The facility will help improve operator safety and reduce downtime by prequalifying procedures for maintaining and replacing high-temperature reactor systems and components, according to Kairos.
The ETU 3.0 building will also house a modular systems facility where plant equipment modules for ETU 3.0 and the Hermes reactor will be staged, assembled, and tested prior to installation. The modular reactor construction methods being piloted with the ETU series and Hermes will be foundational to reducing construction costs and timelines for future plant deployments, the company noted.
“The ability to test innovative production methods with our nonnuclear iterations is a game-changer for us,” said Kairos vice president of manufacturing Craig Gerardi. “By serving as a vehicle to exercise the supply chain and gain construction proficiency, the ETU program helps build confidence in our ability to deliver reactors for Kairos Power customers.”
