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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.
R. F. Bourque
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 15 | Number 2 | March 1989 | Pages 1270-1274
Commercial Reactors, Economics and Power Conversion | doi.org/10.13182/FST89-A39864
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Cascade is an ICF reactor concept with a flowing ceramic granule blanket operating at high temperatures (≤ 1600K). For electical power conversion, we examined three options: (1) conventional Rankine cycle using steam, (2) closed cycle Brayton helium gas turbine, and (3) the Field cycle, which is a hybrid Brayton/Rankine cycle using steam. We found the Brayton cycle to be the most suitable choice. The reference cycle chosen has a peak turbine nozzle inlet temperature of 1300K and a net efficiency of 54.8%. Reheats are an unnecessary complication which, in this case, do not increase efficiency. On the other hand, intercoolers between compressor stages are beneficial. Most of the components can be heat-resisting metal alloy, with ceramics needed only in a limited number of high temperature components. The Field cycle has both elements of the Rankine and Brayton, performance is somewhere in between, and steam pressures are lower than Rankine. Temperatures are high, but low enough to use heat resisting alloys everywhere. It is discussed here because it may be of value in reactors with gas-cooled blankets.