The Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy announced on June 5 that it has awarded vouchers to three nuclear companies from its Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) program to research nuclear fuel and materials.

The DOE’s GAIN vouchers allow for companies to use research facilities and expertise through DOE’s national laboratories to progress advanced nuclear projects, according to the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy’s June 5 press release.

The three companies awarded were:

• AiMiLight Sensors and Intelligent Systems Inc. (based in Pittsburgh, Penn.)
• Hayward Tyler, Inc. (based in Colchester, Vt.)
• Standard Nuclear Inc. (based in Oak Ridge, Tenn.)

Through the GAIN voucher, AiMiLight Sensors and Intelligent Systems will work with DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to test out the company’s prototype “smart” cable. The fiber-embedded electric cable could assist nuclear plants in transitioning to condition-based maintenance of electric cables in severe environments, the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy said.

The Colchester-based Hayward Tyler company will work with the Argonne National Laboratory to test new materials for use in sodium-cooled fast reactor pumps to find alternatives to cobalt alloys.