Tam Fortis needs to validate its computational reactor design before finalizing a configuration for its planned zero-power criticality test. The company requires independent analysis to confirm criticality, shutdown margins, temperature feedback, power distribution, neutron leakage, and the interaction of the reactor’s neutronics, heat pipes, and hydride moderator.
Aalo will work with INL to expand EMRALD’s modeling and simulation capabilities so Aalo can optimize reactor design, economics, and operational reliability. INL developed the EMRALD dynamic risk assessment software and has extensive expertise in advanced reactor modeling, reliability analysis, and microreactor development.
OrganiCore will partner with ORNL to leverage its Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), machine-learning-enabled molecular dynamics capabilities, and prior successful TSL validation work for reactor materials to generate and validate the required nuclear data. The project will create critical-path nuclear data needed to support the design, safety analysis, and licensing of organic-cooled small modular reactors (SMRs).
NANO proposes to partner with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to apply the SCALE/TSUNAMI code suite to quantify the impact of nuclear data, modeling assumptions, and operational parameters on key reactor physics metrics, including reactivity, power distribution, and temperature coefficients. ORNL’s NRC-recognized analytical tools and expertise will enable development of a validated UQ framework tailored to the KRONOS design.
NuCube proposes to partner with Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) to verify an autonomous control architecture using a Digital Twin of the DeccaCell reactor. ANL will adapt its existing autonomous operation and diagnostics framework to demonstrate automated startup, remote monitoring, islanding-mode transitions, and predictive maintenance within a validated simulation environment. The project will generate a technically defensible basis for reduced staffing models and support future DOE and NRC licensing engagement.
Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has developed state-of-the-art modeling and simulation tools for advanced TRISO particle-based fuels using BISON code. AT will partner with INL to extend the BISON fuel-performance code so it can practically model 3D TRISO particle distributions in UCO TRISO compacts, capturing particle–particle and particle–matrix interactions needed for supporting commercial operations of BWXT’s TRISO fuel for the nuclear industry.
NuScale will partner with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to utilize the artificial intelligence (AI) enabled nuclear design framework for the 12-reactor design challenge by strategically exploring the vast design space and reducing the computational time required for the reactor simulations. ORNL has significant expertise in AI, fuel management, and computational resources. Reduced front end and back-end fuel costs can make nuclear energy more competitive in the marketplace.
Zeno will partner with Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) to demonstrate the capabilities of a pyro-aqueous hybrid strontium separation process to provide technical data for Zeno to explore scale up in support of Zeno’s RPS designs. ANL’s Chemical and Fuel Cycle Technologies (CFCT) division have extensive experience in developing separation technologies for UNF recycling, in addition to medical isotope separation and purification. This project will generate successful flowsheet development to reduce the volume, heat load, and cost for UNF.
TerraPower will partner with Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) to generate NQA-1 qualifiable and traceable thermophysical property data for Beginning of Life (BOL) and simulated End of Life (EOL) ternary fuel salts. ANL has proven expertise in molten salt thermophysical measurement under NQA-1 standards. These results will directly inform reactor and component design, thermal hydraulic modeling, safety margines, and licensing strategies.
Oklo will partner with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), which has demonstrated gram-scale reduction of UF6 to UF4 through an intermediary compound that significantly reduces the traditional method’s hazards. PNNL has also shown the viability of co-reducing fluorides to metal. The possibility of eliminating the intermediate UF4 production step will have the potential of increased throughput and process safety that will help accelerate deployment of a commercial fabrication facility.