For the first time in a long time, a new nuclear research reactor will be built in the United States

November 24, 2022

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has accepted an application from Abilene Christian University (ACU) for a permit to build a Molten Salt Research Reactor (MSRR) on its campus in Abilene, Texas. This is the first application for a new US research reactor in more than 30 years and the first application for an advanced university research reactor.

In August, ACU applied for the Nuclear Power Experimental Testing Laboratory (NEXT Lab), which includes a 1MW non-power MSRR. The reactor will use a molten salt coolant with fuel dissolved in the molten salt. The facility will provide a research platform for molten salt technology as well as educational opportunities in nuclear science and technology. This is the official version.

ACU is the lead university in the NEXTRA Research Alliance, which includes Georgia Tech, Texas A&M University, and the University of Texas at Austin. The alliance has a $30,5 million research agreement with Natura Resources to design and build a university molten salt research reactor.

According to program management, several aspects of the MSRR design had already been reviewed by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff in the previous two years of work prior to filing with the ACU.

Through this constructive engagement, the agency was able to establish an 18-month review schedule. Barring unforeseen delays, staff expects to complete the environmental and safety review by May 2024

- said in a recent interview with the press representative of the NRC.

Construction of the 2600-square-meter Gale and Max Dillard Science and Engineering Research Center, which will house NEXT Lab and MSRR, is already underway and should be completed in the summer of 2023, according to the ACU.

If a construction license is granted, ACU will have to submit a separate application for a license to operate the reactor later. About what specific research (in addition to working out the use of molten salt technology) is planned to be carried out using a promising nuclear reactor, at the moment it is not reported.

Author:: Hamin Mikhail

Military Reviewin Yandex News

Military Reviewin Yandex Zen

Victor_B 24 November 2022 08: 16
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Ours, it seems, do not work with molten uranium salts.
At the end of last year, SR announced the start of designing Russia's first molten-salt research reactor (IZhSR) to test the afterburning technology for long-lived nuclear waste — minor actinides. The technical features of the innovative installation and the prospects of the project were told by the specialists of the organization - the chief designer of IZhSR: deputy general director of NIKIET named after V.I. Dollezhal for R&D Alexander Lopatkin and chief designer of research and isotope reactors Igor Tretyakov.

https://strana-rosatom.ru/2020/05/12/zhidkosolevoj-reaktor-v-razreze/
1. Bingo 24 November 2022 08: 29
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  Quote: Victor_B
  Ours, like, with molten uranium salts
  
  There is a suspicion that it is all about the impossibility of processing weapons-grade plutonium / uranium. They generally scored on plutonium - they realized that they were trying to get out of it not by their brains, but with uranium, mixing at least salt into the fuel ... Well, this is an option. With processing, they completely butted in - they couldn’t do anything at all. Not Russia
  1. alekseykabanets 24 November 2022 08: 47
    
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    Quote from Bingo
    realized that it was not in their brains
    
    What's wrong with their brains? They employ the best brains in the world today, ask how many scientists from the former USSR went there in the 90s, how many graduates of prestigious technical universities are leaving Russia today. How zadolbali your jingoistic hat-throwing moods are already sick! A year and a half ago, all the turbo-patriots here were laughing at the "puppies and pigs," and how? The results are not as expected, are they? As for me, the jingoistic patriots and hat throwers - the enemies will pile worse.
    1. Bingo 24 November 2022 09: 01
      
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      Quote: aleksejkabanets
      What's wrong with their brains?
      
      The fact that, for example, the technology for processing weapons-grade uranium and plutonium, which, by the way, is non-weapon-grade, exists in Russia, does not exist in the United States. The fact that the United States does not know how to build reactors. The fact that they are not capable of processing fuel. The fact that hypersound cannot.
      And yes, the best minds work. IN HOLLYWOOD
      1. Kotofeich 24 November 2022 09: 21
        
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        [quote = Bingo] The fact that the United States does not know how to build reactors.
        Well no. Everything is in order with their brains (for example, space), there is something else here.
        
        Bingo 24 November 2022 09: 30
        
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        Quote: Kotofeich
        Everything is in order with their brains (for example, space), there is something else here.
        
        Media. Won below wrote about thermonuclear. They just launched an advertising company about him at one time - and that's why the money went to this crap, which is not clear for now, is it needed at all or not. Accordingly, the brains also have to choose - to develop plutonium purification technologies, without money, or to climb into outright profanity, for example, with green energy and thermonuclear - you can do nothing there, sculpt cartoons and there will be money. showed once a year a box with the inscription "a model of a promising thermonuclear reactor" and sit whistling, how cool it will be if it works. Really sick society
      2. alekseykabanets 24 November 2022 09: 26
        
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        Quote from Bingo
        The fact that the United States does not know how to build reactors.
        
        You at least looked into open sources, or something. Russia - 28 (Power in MWh) - 448 (Generation in GWh) - 195535,15% (share). USA - 19,7 (Power in MWh) - 99 (Generation in GWh) - 648% (share). Three or four times more "can't"?
        Quote from Bingo
        The fact that hypersound cannot.
        
        Yes, I don’t want to comment, especially since we are talking about nuclear energy.
        
        Bingo 24 November 2022 09: 37
        
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        Quote: aleksejkabanets
        Three or four times more "can't"?
        
        Find a reactor built in the previous 40 years. Here's how to find it - you can at least paste over your "open sources". Because they DO NOT know how and CANNOT. Who could - long in the grave
        
        alekseykabanets 24 November 2022 09: 52
        
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        Quote from Bingo
        Quote: aleksejkabanets
        Three or four times more "can't"?
        
        Find a reactor built in the previous 40 years. Here's how to find it - you can at least paste over your "open sources". Because they DO NOT know how and CANNOT. Who could - long in the grave
        
        "Almost all operating NPPs were built in the period 1967-1990, new NPP projects were launched only in 2013 [3]. As of November 2021, the country continues to build 2 new reactors with a total capacity of 2,5 GW. From the construction of 2 more AP1000 reactors (Virgil C. Summer 2 and 3) was decided to be abandoned[4], due to a twofold increase in the cost of the estimate and the unwillingness of the parties to incur additional costs.
        
        Also, over the years of construction, the payback of the nuclear power plant was in question. Mass production of shale gas has lowered the price of it by almost three times. Nuclear energy began to lose to gas power plants. "At least take a look at Wikipedia, or something.
        
        Bingo 24 November 2022 10: 02
        
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        Quote: aleksejkabanets
        Almost all operating nuclear power plants were built in the period 1967-1990
        
        Bullshit. No reactors of the 80s or 90s
        
        Quote: aleksejkabanets
        only launched in 2013
        
        Nonsense again, 2008 - Vogl NPP won a tender. Launch - 2015 according to the project, THEY CANNOT BUILD, built over 1500 subcontractors from all over the world, mostly Koreans, NICHRE DOES NOT WORK TILL THE DAY.
        Quote: aleksejkabanets
        payback of the nuclear power plant was in question
        
        Again, nonsense, the cost of energy at nuclear power plants is cheaper, cheaper only at hydroelectric power plants, they simply DO NOT know how to build, so the cost of construction has increased many times, by the way, not from two. That's why it doesn't work to this day.
        Quote: aleksejkabanets
        look at wikipedia
        
        This is for people like you write, without the ability to perceive facts. In general, referencing pedivicia is an indicator.
        Have you found a reactor built in 40 years? Ahhh, so it doesn’t work out to be pasted over with "open sources"?
        
        alekseykabanets 24 November 2022 10: 12
        
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        Quote from Bingo
        Brekhna
        
        You can go to Wikipedia and correct the article, the article is called "US Nuclear Energy", it's very simple, if your information is true, it will remain there, if not, then they will write to you why your edits did not go through (with numbers and facts) . I ruled the article there, there is nothing complicated about it.
        
        Blackmokona 24 November 2022 10: 25
        
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        They built several new AP-1000 reactors
        
        Bingo 24 November 2022 10: 49
        
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        Quote: BlackMokona
        They built several new AP-1000 reactors
        
        There is very interesting crap that these reactors are not very problematic, and also crap that they are not American, I remembered Korea for a reason. The same Vogtl, which is a Korean reactor and, in addition, crookedly welded, only surfaced when, during the construction of the Vogtl nuclear power plant, it was DROPPED in the port, brought from Seaernoy Korea, then it stood in the port for a couple of years, and when they brought it all the same, it turned out that he had everything welds cracked)
        But this is garbage, the jamb of the AR-100 reactors is "alloy-600", non-radio-resistant, which the Germans knew about, replacing it back in the 80s. And mattresses DO NOT BE ABLE TO BUILD - here their alloy fell down - and Fukushima gasped. So a couple of reactors in China (out of 30) are worth replacing, they are unusable. And the Vogtl hasn't been launched yet. And in China, they were built mainly by the Chinese, again not SG + SHA.
        In general, if it comes to that, Westinghouse is not involved in nuclear power plants, his sphere has always been fuel and software. But they swung at the blocks ...
        The result is clear.
        In general, I recommend reading how the US builds nuclear power plants. You can look for sources, at first I didn’t believe it either, for example, when the Senate commission arrived at the construction site -
        2012 workers failed to pass drug and alcohol tests in 158 at the construction site of the Vogtle nuclear power plant
        
        Well, these will build...
        https://geoenergetics.ru/2017/07/05/put-k-bankrotstvu-westinghouse/
        
        Blackmokona 24 November 2022 12: 43
        
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        Quote from Bingo
        Quote: BlackMokona
        They built several new AP-1000 reactors
        
        There is very interesting crap that these reactors are not very problematic, and also crap that they are not American, I remembered Korea for a reason. The same Vogtl, which is a Korean reactor and, in addition, crookedly welded, only surfaced when, during the construction of the Vogtl nuclear power plant, it was DROPPED in the port, brought from Seaernoy Korea, then it stood in the port for a couple of years, and when they brought it all the same, it turned out that he had everything welds cracked)
        But this is garbage, the jamb of the AR-100 reactors is "alloy-600", non-radio-resistant, which the Germans knew about, replacing it back in the 80s. And mattresses DO NOT BE ABLE TO BUILD - here their alloy fell down - and Fukushima gasped. So a couple of reactors in China (out of 30) are worth replacing, they are unusable. And the Vogtl hasn't been launched yet. And in China, they were built mainly by the Chinese, again not SG + SHA.
        In general, if it comes to that, Westinghouse is not involved in nuclear power plants, his sphere has always been fuel and software. But they swung at the blocks ...
        The result is clear.
        In general, I recommend reading how the US builds nuclear power plants. You can look for sources, at first I didn’t believe it either, for example, when the Senate commission arrived at the construction site -
        2012 workers failed to pass drug and alcohol tests in 158 at the construction site of the Vogtle nuclear power plant
        
        Well, these will build...
        https://geoenergetics.ru/2017/07/05/put-k-bankrotstvu-westinghouse/
        
        AP-1000s have been successfully tested in China, and China is building a huge pile of its stations on their basis. Therefore, the United States was already building at home with all the troubles fixed.
        
        Bingo 24 November 2022 12: 49
        
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        Quote: BlackMokona
        Therefore, the United States was already building at home with all the troubles fixed.
        
        NO. They didn’t fix anything - and they aren’t going to, they didn’t even make the results of the Fukushima investigation public.
        
        Blackmokona 24 November 2022 14: 35
        
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        Quote from Bingo
        Quote: BlackMokona
        Therefore, the United States was already building at home with all the troubles fixed.
        
        NO. They didn’t fix anything - and they aren’t going to, they didn’t even make the results of the Fukushima investigation public.
        
        The AP-1000s have nothing to do with the Fukushima reactors, they are a completely new development.
        
        Bingo 24 November 2022 15: 03
        
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        The jamb is the same as in subsequent reactors - alloy-600 steel, which corrodes and crumbles in the hot zone
Bingo 24 November 2022 08: 19
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I would not be so categorical ...
Macalister, Terry. Westinghouse wins first US nuclear deal in 30 years. Guardian News and Media Limited (9 April 2008).

2008 Westinghouse in the USA will build the first reactor in 30 years ... They should have launched it in 2015 ... Right now, 2022, the reactor is not working ... Also, the USA was going to build and did not build - about 30 reactors in China and the same number in India, unfinished in China, they still haven’t started in India, the first contracts were signed in 2006 - so far they haven’t even picked a little country with a scoop
Kaufman 24 November 2022 08: 19
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Well, as it were. What can I say, well done, they work, they move science. Truth with money stolen from all over the world. Reactors are being built. Voyagers fly and even send signals
1. vadimtt 24 November 2022 08: 37
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  It is in the atom that they do not move anything, they try not to lose what they have, it turns out badly so far. On the other hand, they are quite successful in pulsed (laser) fusion, but this is such a complex matter, no easy breakthroughs are expected.
  1. WILL 24 November 2022 08: 40
    
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    Another would be to stop the supply of our uranium to the United States. Let the windmills build.
  2. Bingo 24 November 2022 09: 02
    
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    Quote: vadimtt
    but this is such a complex matter, easy breakthroughs are not expected.
    
    There, in fact, it is not at all clear yet whether it is worth it, or a loud bunch will come out into a puddle, as with stealth technologies or green energy.
kor1vet1974 24 November 2022 08: 27
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For the first time in a long time, a new nuclear research reactor will be built in the United States
Rejoice? Grieve? Condemn? Call to account?
1. Volodin 24 November 2022 08: 32
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  Quote: kor1vet1974
  Rejoice? Grieve? Condemn? Call to account?
  
  And if you try to just accept it as information, since you decided to read this news ...
2. vadimtt 24 November 2022 08: 43
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  It's hard to say, it's indifferent for us so far. Yes, even rather, you can rejoice, the United States with completely lost nuclear competencies pose a danger not only to itself.
  1. Bingo 24 November 2022 09: 11
    
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    Quote: vadimtt
    The United States with completely lost nuclear competencies is a danger not only to itself.
    
    Fukushima and the story with alloy-600, which was never changed, although the Germans caught back in the 80s that it was not radio-resistant - as it were, confirms
Carib 24 November 2022 11: 40
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Quote: aleksejkabanets
Quote from Bingo
Brekhna

You can go to Wikipedia and correct the article, the article is called "US Nuclear Energy", it's very simple, if your information is true, it will remain there, if not, then they will write to you why your edits did not go through (with numbers and facts) . I ruled the article there, there is nothing complicated about it.

Wiki is not ours. You edit, after 2 days (maybe later, but not much) the admins will return back, and you will be blocked. Do not fuck in someone else's sandbox to build their castles. Wiki was created as a propaganda source of corrected knowledge. This does not apply to all areas of knowledge, namely those in which minke whales have lied ...
ycuce234-san 24 November 2022 18: 54
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US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Accepts Abilene Christian University (ACU) Application

"The most Christian reactors of the humble atom..." Sounds.
Reactors of the Institute of Philosophy - translated into our realities and in our cultural equivalent.