The Role of Instrumentation and Control Technology in Enabling Deployment of Small Modular Reactors

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2011 · Nuclear News

OSTI ID:1032817

Clayton, Dwight A ^[1]; Wood, Richard Thomas ^[1]

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1. ORNL

The development of deployable small modular reactors (SMRs) will provide the United States with another economically viable energy option, diversify the available nuclear power alternatives for the country, and enhance U.S. economic competitiveness by ensuring a domestic capability to supply demonstrated reactor technology to a growing global market for clean and affordable energy sources. Smaller nuclear power plants match the needs of much of the world that lacks highly stable, densely interconnected electrical grids. SMRs can present lower capital and operating costs than large reactors, allow incremental additions to power generation capacity that closely match load growth and support multiple energy applications (i.e., electricity and process heat). Taking advantage of their smaller size and modern design methodology, safety, security, and proliferation resistance may also be increased. Achieving the benefits of SMR deployment requires a new paradigm for plant design and management to address multi-unit, multi-product-stream generating stations. Realizing the goals of SMR deployment also depends on the resolution of technical challenges related to the unique characteristics of these reactor concepts. This paper discusses the primary issues related to SMR deployment that can be addressed through crosscutting research, development, and demonstration involving instrumentation and controls (I&C) technologies.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1032817
• Journal Information: Nuclear News, Journal Name: Nuclear News Journal Issue: 13 Vol. 54; ISSN NUNWA8; ISSN 0029-5574
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
AVAILABILITY
CAPACITY
CAPITAL
Controls
DESIGN
ECONOMICS
ELECTRICITY
ENERGY SOURCES
Energy
I&C
Instrumentation
MANAGEMENT
MARKET
NUCLEAR POWER
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
OPERATING COST
POWER GENERATION
PROLIFERATION
REACTOR TECHNOLOGY
RESOLUTION
SAFETY
SECURITY
SMR
Small Modular Reactor