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Second round of Launch Pad selections includes eight newcomers
The National Reactor Innovation Center at Idaho National Laboratory has announced 13 project selections across 12 companies for the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad, a Department of Energy–led program that integrates reactor and fuel facility authorization, testing, and deployment support for private nuclear developers.
The Launch Pad emerged from the Reactor Pilot Program and Fuel Line Pilot Program.
According to INL, projects selected include reactor development and nuclear fuel cycle advancements, including fabrication, enrichment, and conversion technologies.
Ralph W. Moir
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 15 | Number 2 | March 1989 | Pages 1114-1118
Alternate Fuels and Innovative Confinement Concept | doi.org/10.13182/FST89-A39842
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
This paper discusses a modified version of the PACER concept for power and nuclear material production. In the PACER concept, a 20-kt peaceful nuclear explosion is contained in a cavity about 200 m in diameter, filled with 200 atm of 500°C steam. Energy from the explosion is used to produce power, and the neutrons are used to produce materials such as 233U. The present idea is to modify the PACER concept in three ways to improve the practicality, predictability, and safety of power production from this technology and thus improve public acceptance of this power source. These improvements are (1) line the cavity with steel; (2) replace the steam with molten salt, LiF + BeF2; and (3) reduce the explosive yield to about 2 kt. PACER is the only fusion power concept where the underlying technology of the power source itself is proven and in hand today. The molten-salt shock-suppression and heat transport system and the durability of the underground cavity need demonstration.