A California-based power-generating company has reportedly championed an iterative approach for a reactor development. Kairos Power’s started construction on one of the first advanced reactors in the United States in August.
The company’s Hermes reactor, supported through the Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, is the first non-light water design permitted for construction in the United States in more than 50 years.
The low-power reactor is expected to be operational in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in 2027.
Barnard will build Kairos Power’s third non-nuclear demonstration
Alongside this, civil construction company Barnard will build Kairos Power’s third non-nuclear demonstration Engineering Test Unit (ETU).
The simultaneous construction of ETU 3.0 will help inform Hermes, which will produce only heat, as well as building on supply chain and operational experience, reported Reuters .
The Alameda-based company recently wrapped up molten salt testing on the company’s first Engineering Test Unit (ETU) at its manufacturing facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The system is the first of three iterations that are being built to help design, construct and operate Hermes, according to the company.
Department of Energy to invest up to $303 million
The U.S. Department of Energy will invest up to $303 million to support the design, construction , and commissioning of Hermes through its Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program.
Kairos Power is also partnering with Los Alamos National Laboratory to produce TRISO pebble fuel for the reactor and, has a cooperative development agreement in place with the Tennessee Valley Authority to provide engineering, operations, and licensing support.
The company claimed that it recently started excavation and groundwork at the Hermes site through a contract with Barnard Construction Company. The reactor is being used to inform the development of the company’s commercial reactor that could be deployed the next decade, according to the company.
Hermes will use a TRISO fuel pebble bed design
The company claims that the Hermes will use a TRISO fuel pebble bed design with a molten fluoride salt coolant to demonstrate affordable clean heat production.
The project was cleared for construction back in December by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and is expected to create more than 55 high-paying, full time jobs at the former K-33 gaseous diffusion plant site in Oak Ridge, according to the company.
“We’re thrilled to start building in the historic East Tennessee Technology Park,” said Edward Blandford, Kairos Power Chief Technology Officer and co-founder, earlier.
Blandford also maintained that the City of Oak Ridge, the Department of Energy and its contractors, and the Barnard team have all been excellent partners in helping them repurpose the Brownfield site.
He claimed that Barnard’s strong track record and people-centered culture are a great match for Kairos Power, and we look forward to working together over the long term to realize the future of clean nuclear energy.
Kairos Power’s chief executive officer and co-founder Mike Laufer stated that the Space X approach of making small, rapid steps to improve and hasten the development cycle while relying, as much as possible, on in-house manufacturing, has been an important inspiration in Kairos Power’s own nuclear program.
Laufer added that a fundamental component of Kairos Power’s development approach that includes the shift from large scale, large cost, slow projects to shrink down to a more rapid, iterative development cycle, reported Reuters .
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