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NRC approves TerraPower construction permit
Today, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced that it has approved TerraPower’s construction permit application for Kemmerer Unit 1, the company’s first deployment of Natrium, its flagship sodium fast reactor.
This approval is a significant milestone on three fronts. For TerraPower, it represents another step forward in demonstrating its technology. For the Department of Energy, it reflects progress (despite delays) for the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). For the NRC, it is the first approval granted to a commercial reactor in nearly a decade—and the first approval of a commercial non–light water reactor in more than 40 years.
Howard A. Larson, William F. Booty, Donald R. Chick, Lynn J. Christensen, Robert J. Forrester, J. W. Sielinsky
Nuclear Technology | Volume 70 | Number 2 | August 1985 | Pages 167-179
Technical Paper | Fission Reactor | doi.org/10.13182/NT85-A33641
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II) has been modified to permit automatic control capability. Necessary mechanical and electrical changes were made on a regular control rod position; motor, gears, and controller were replaced. A digital computer system was installed that has the programming capability for varied power profiles. The modifications permit transient testing at EBR-II. Experiments were run that increased power linearly as much as 4 MW/s [16% of initial power of 25 MW (thermal)/s], held power constant, and decreased power at a rate no slower than the increase rate. Thus the performance of the automatic control algorithm, the mechanical and electrical control equipment, and the qualifications of the driver fuel for future power change experiments were all demonstrated.