Westinghouse Electric Company has reached a significant milestone in the development of the eVinci nuclear microreactor.
The powerhouse has successfully completed the Front-End Engineering and Experimenting Design (FEEED) phase, according to a press release by the U.S.-based firm.
“Westinghouse is the first reactor developer to reach this milestone in support of siting its test reactor at NRIC’s Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments (DOME) test bed at Idaho National Laboratory (INL),” read the release published on Monday.
This achievement paves the way for potential testing and experiments with a 5MW microreactor in two years.
Brad Tomer, the acting director of the National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC), stated that filing the safety design report for the “eVinci test reactor is an important step towards enabling a microreactor developer to perform a test in our DOME facility.”
NRIC is working “to perform testing and accelerate development of advanced nuclear technologies that will provide clean energy solutions for the U.S.”
‘World’s first microreactor test bed’
The FEEED process is a crucial step for speeding up advanced nuclear reactor technologies.
This phase helps developers plan, design, and fabricate experiments for testing at the DOME, the “world’s first microreactor test bed.”
Westinghouse eVinci microreactor is first among three other designs that could possibly start tests at the DOME lab in 2026.
“This PSDR submission is a critical step to bringing the Westinghouse eVinci Microreactor to commercial operation,” said Jon Ball, president of eVinci Technologies at Westinghouse.
“We are targeting deployment of multiple eVinci microreactors across the world by the end of the decade, and the strong and continued partnership with INL and the Department of Energy is instrumental to our efforts,” added the president.
Meanwhile, Radiant and Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation, the other private contenders for nuclear power, are also expected to complete the FEEED process later this year, the press release noted.
eVinci nuclear microreactor
The eVinci microreactor is a cutting-edge micro-modular reactor designed for remote applications. Its compact size enables rapid deployment on-site and ease of transportation.
The micro nuclear reactor has a 15MWth core design that can output 5MWe. As per Westinghouse , the reactor’s core is supposed to operate for at least eight years before needing to be refueled.
It can operate on sites as small as two acres, making it an ideal energy option for remote mining operations, data centers, etc., and cutting 55,000 tons of C02 emissions yearly.
The firm uses TRISO fuel in the eVinci, which is more resistant to incidents of corrosion, oxidation, and high temperatures than traditional nuclear fuels.
When the fuel runs out, the microreactor may be removed and disposed of, much like a battery, and replaced with a new one for continuous energy.
The microreactor is also equipped with shutdown rods for security during transit. Deep biological repositories (DGR) are suitable for long-term nuclear fuel storage.
Westinghouse plans to install the first eVinci microreactor in Saskatchewan, Canada, noted the press release from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The microreactor facility is projected to be operational by 2029. The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) has approved a CAD 80 million (U.S. $59 million) project to construct the first such microreactor.
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