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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.
Peter Hofmann, Mario Enrique Markiewicz, José Luis Spino
Nuclear Technology | Volume 90 | Number 2 | May 1990 | Pages 226-244
Technical Paper | Matetial | doi.org/10.13182/NT90-A34417
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The chemical reaction behavior of B4C absorber material with stainless steel 1.4919 (Type 316) and Zircaloy-4 is studied in the 800 to 1600 C temperature range. The reaction kinetics for both systems can be described by parabolic rate laws. Above 1000°C, the reaction zone growth rates in the B4C/stainless steel system are about two orders of magnitude higher than those in the B4C/Zircaloy-4 system. The compatibility specimens are quickly and completely liquefied at temperatures ≥1250°C for the B4C/stainless steel reaction couples and temperatures ≥1650°C for the B4C/Zircaloy-4 reaction couples. In both reaction systems, liquefaction occurs below the melting points of the components.
