The new reactor is called Marvel, expected to operate at 500 – 550 degrees Celsius and use the engine to convert heat into electricity.
Carolina Fabricators was chosen to make the first majority for Marvel, protective barrel. Image: INL
The United States plans to deploy the first micrarcherector (micrarcator) in the next two years, will also be one of the first new reactors of the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) after about 5 decades. The US Department of Energy has just awarded contracts to Carolina Fabricators in South Carolina to make the main cooling system (PCS) for this reactor, Interesting Engineering On February 14, reported.
The new reactor is called Marvel, mainly used to research and test the applications of the micro reactor type, solving the main challenges of technology. Marvel cooled with liquid metal with stirling engines producing about 100 kW of energy using a small amount of low -quality uranium high quality.
When completed, Marvel will be transferred to the Inl material and fuel complex. It will operate at a temperature of 500 – 550 degrees Celsius and use the engine to convert heat into electricity. With this reactor, scientists can simulate and investigate practical challenges related to deduction and hydrogen production. Marvel is expected to operate in 2027 and maintain operations in two years.
Unlike traditional reactors that require local manufacturing and passive cooling systems, micro -reactors can be produced in the factory and travel from place to place as required. This makes them suitable for many different industries and easily integrated into the grid. The micro -reactor can supply electricity and heat to the defense, industry and civil energy industries.
Carolina Fabricators has developed a protective barrel for Marvel reactor core, an important part to help ensure safe operation. This is an outer protective cover surrounding the core of the reactor and the main cooling system.
Meanwhile, PCS is described as the most complex component because of the control and heat transfer from the reactor core, where the temperature can reach hundreds of degrees C in a short time. The manufacture of PCS from the beginning is much more complicated because the protection barrel is like a passive component used in an emergency, and PCS is an active function system that often faces heat problems. “PCS increases complexity to many steps,” Patrick Halligan, a representative of Carolina Fabricators, said.
Scientists at Inl believe in Carolina Fabricators’ abilities. They hope that PCS will soon complete, allowing them to advance to the next stage, including developing the support framework of the reactor and the reaction control system.