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September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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BWXT starts building Pele microreactor core
Fabrication of the reactor core for the 1.5-MW Project Pele demonstration microreactor has begun, according to BWX Technologies. Pele is being developed at the BWXT Innovation Campus in Lynchburg, Va., for the U.S. Department of Defense’s Strategic Capabilities Office.
Susumu Ninomiya, Fumio Ohtsuka, Hiromichi Nei, Osamu Takikawa, Mituo Harata
Nuclear Technology | Volume 65 | Number 3 | June 1984 | Pages 395-401
Technical Paper | Nuclear Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT84-A33394
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A program was carried out to develop a sodium vapor pressure measuring system using beta-alumina ceramics for use in developing sodium vapor traps and monitoring sodium mist in cover gas for fast breeder reactors (FBRs) and test facilities. The sensor device was tested in a vacuum glass capsule. Its output agreed well with theoretical results. Moreover, it proved to have the capability of measuring a lower vapor pressure near 10−5 Torr without any calibrations. The measuring system, consisting of a beta-alumina sensor device, gas circulating pump, gas heater, and mist trap, is applicable to FBR plants and test facilities that contain much sodium mist and to a transient monitoring system. This system was tested in an isothermal sodium vapor circulation test loop under conditions involving much sodium mist.