Microreactor Program Review 2026
March 3 – 5, 2026
Meeting Objectives:
This Program Review will be focused on ongoing progress for each Technical Focus Area and discussion of path forward for the remainder of FY26. Discussions will highlight:
- Accomplishments to date and progress on key efforts
- Issues/concerns related to meeting FY26 goals and M2 milestones
- Potential collaboration with other NE programs
- Initial thoughts on priorities for FY27 and beyond
- Review participant questions
Program Vision:
Through cross-cutting research and development and technology demonstration support, the Microreactor Program will enable broad deployment of microreactor technology by:
- Achieve technological breakthroughs for key features of microreactors
- Identifying and addressing technology solutions to improve the economic viability and licensing readiness of microreactors
- Enable successful demonstrations of multiple domestic commercial microreactors
Program Objectives:
1. Address critical, cross-cutting R&D needs that require unique national lab or university expertise or capabilities
2. Develop R&D infrastructure to support design, demonstration, regulatory issue resolution, and M&S code validation
3. Develop advanced technologies that enable improvements in microreactor viability
Presentations
Agenda
Program Overview
Systems Integration and Analysis
| Presenter | Presentation Title | Presentation |
|---|---|---|
| Gale Hauck | 01 - System Integration and Analysis Overview | Link |
| Botros Hanna | 02 - Microreactor Economics | Link |
| Chandu Bolisetti | 03 - Development Of Codes and Standards Solutions to Streamline Regulatory Review and Approval | Link |
| Steven Maheras | 04 - Microreactor Transportation Activities | Link |
| Saya Lee | 05 - Development of the Technical Basses to Support Flexible Siting of MRs Based on Right-Sized EPZ | Link |
| Martin Nieto Perez | 06 - Cement Calcination Project Updates NEUP 24-32112 | Link |
| Tim McJunkin | 07 - (Lunch Talk) Nuclear Powered Microgrids | Link |
Demonstration Capabilities
| Presenter | Presentation Title | Presentation |
|---|---|---|
| Piyush Sabharall | 08 - Demonstration & Support Capabilities Overview | Link |
| Jeremy Hartvigsen | 09 - SPHERE Testing and Validation | Link |
| Joshua Hansel | 10 - Recent Progress in Sockeye | Link |
| Shaleena Jaison | 11 - MAGNET Brayton Cycle PCU Integration | Link |
| Austen Fradeneck | 12 - Triply Periodic Minimal Surface Heat Exchangers for SMR and Microreactor Applications | Link |
| Nikona Rousseau | 13 - Sodium Heat Pipes; Design and Failure Mode Assessment for Microreactor Applications (NEUP 24-24-31551) | Link |
| Piyush Sabharall | 14 - Demonstration Capabilities Area Summary & Wrap Up | Link |
Technology Maturation
| Presenter | Presentation Title | Presentation |
|---|---|---|
| Holly Trellue | 15 - Technology Maturation Technical Area Overview | Link |
| Caitlin Kohnert | 16 - High Temperature Moderator Overview | Link |
| Abdellatif Yacout | 17 - High Temperature Moderator Containment: Advanced Moderator Module (AMM) Concept | Link |
| M Nedim Cinbiz | 18 - An Overall Assessment of ATR and HFIR Irradiated Samples and Conclusions | Link |
| Anthony Crawford | 19 - Instrumentation and Sensors - MACS/VIBRANT System | Link |
| Paul Geimer | 20 - Instrumentation and Sensors - Acoustics | Link |
| Daniel Sweeney | 21 - Non-Visual Techniques for Monitoring Microreactor Components | Link |
| Martin Ward | 22 - Graphite Test Article and Heat Transfer | Link |
| Holly Trellue | 23 - Technology Maturation Technical Area | Link |
| Vivek Agarwal | 24 - (Lunch Talk) Autonomous Control for Reactor TechNologies (ACORN) Overview | Link |
| Curtis Foster | 25 - Cost Reduction for Advanced Integration Heat Exchanger Technology for Microreactors (NEUP 21-24226) | Link |
| Jeffrey King | 26 - Development of Hydrogen Transport Models for High Temperature Metal Hydride Moderators (NEUP 22-27123) | Link |
| Stylianos Chatzidakis | 27 - Demonstrating Autonomous Architectures for Microreactors Under Prototypic Condistion in PUR-1 (NEUP 22-27123) | Link |
| Eric Lang | 28 - Deciphering Irradiation Effect of Yhx Through In-situ Evaluation and Micromechanics for Microreactor Applications (Project 23-29784) | Link |
| Jason Trelewicz | 29 - Transforming Microreactor Economics Through Hydride Moderator Enabled Neutron Economy (Project 23-29834) | Link |
Microreactor Application
| Presenter | Presentation Title | Presentation |
|---|---|---|
| Abdalla Abou-Jaoude | 30 - MARVEL Overview | Link |
| Anthony Crawford | 32 - MARVEL Reactivity Control System (RCS) | Link |
| Andrew Helm | 34 - Intrumentation and Control | Link |
| Rami Saeed | 36 - Process Heat: Microreactor Thermal Energy Loop (MTEL) | Link |
| Vicent Schartz | 37 - TREAT Reactor Experiment Cell (T-REXC) | Link |
| Travis Lange | 38 - MARVEL Dry Critical: Fuel Loading and Initial Startup Neutronics Analysis | Link |
| Doug Gerstner | 39 - MARVEL Documented Safety Analysis (DSA) Development Strategy & Results | Link |
| Adrian Collins | 40 - (Lunch Talk) National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) | Link |
| Nicolas Woolstenhulme | 40 - (Lunch Talk) SPARC Facility Overview | Link |
| Chad Ryan | 41 - MARVEL Dry Criticality Assembly | Link |
| Travis King | 42 - MARVEL Transition to Operations and Readiness | Link |
| Nick Morriss | 45 - MARVEL Produced Water Desalination | Link |
| Taylor Ochs | 46 - Testing Neutron Sentors - Radiation Detection Technologies, Inc. | Link |
| Faith Beck | 47 - MARVEL Remote Ops and Control GE Vernova Test Implementation Plan | Link |
| Reese Gannon | 31 - MARVEL Reactor Component Fabrication | Link |
| Carl Baily | 33 - Heat Extraction System (HES) | Link |
| Ben Baker | 35 - Power Generating System Testing | Link |