Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Archives

High-Temperature Pipe Wall-Thickness Detection System

Nuclear AI will partner with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to utilize the capabilities for the Nondestructive Evaluation Unit of the Engineering Materials group. PNNL will use high-temperature furnace infrastructure, ultrasonic PZT sensor components, and high precision prototyping equipment to demonstrate the efficacy of a high temperature pipe wall thickness detector. The ability to perform inspections and vet structural integrity at these temperatures would support advanced reactor inspection programs for piping and vessel components.

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Development of Novel Deconversion Technology

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.

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GAIN Announces Fourth Round FY 2025 Nuclear Energy Voucher Recipients

November 20, 2025,
DOE’s Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) program provides the nuclear community with the technical, regulatory, and financial support needed to move innovative nuclear technologies toward commercialization while ensuring the continued, safe, and economic operation of the existing fleet. GAIN voucher recipients do not receive direct financial awards. Vouchers provide funding to DOE laboratories to help businesses overcome critical technological and commercialization challenges. All awardees are responsible for a minimum 20 percent cost share, which could be an in-kind contribution. This marks the fourth and final round of GAIN vouchers awarded for fiscal year 2025. Please visit the GAIN website for more information on upcoming award rounds.

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Radiation Test of Smart Electric Cable for Nuclear Power Plants

AiMiLi will partner with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to access the Accelerated and Real-time Experimental Nodal Assessment (ARENA) Cable Test Bed and High Exposure Facility (HEF) gamma irradiation capabilities. These facilities can simulate adverse power plant environments in a testing environment.

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GAIN Vouchers Awarded to Accelerate Research on Advanced Fuels, Materials, and Sensors – 2nd Round FY 2025

June 5, 2025 – The Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) announced today that three companies will be provided vouchers to Advancing Nuclear Fuel, Materials, and Sensors Companies. The vouchers provide companies access to the extensive nuclear research capabilities and expertise available 25.across the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory complex. This is the second round of GAIN vouchers awarded for FY 2025

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Analysis of NuCycle® Flowsheet for Waste Stream Characterization, Curio Solutions

Curio will partner with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to conduct an analysis of the NuCycle® flowsheet that will allow the generation of quantities and classification of anticipated waste streams and recommendations on waste forms most suitable to sequestering the generated waste streams. Results of the project would be used to determine the approach to managing waste from a pilot demonstration of NuCycle® to be performed in 2027.

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Development of Analytical Techniques for Trace Impurities in 2LiF-BeF2, Kairos Power

Kairos will partner with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to extend measurements of dissolved oxygen and corrosion products in FLiBe to the full range of relevant/significant impurities, as well as incorporating the measurement methods into their quality assurance program/practices. Refinement of analytical methods for species in salt that impact system operation will enable Kairos to continue along the aggressive timeline for near term nuclear demonstration and commercial deployment.

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GAIN Vouchers Awarded to Advance Recycling Technologies and Reactor Concepts – 1st Round FY 2025

December 19, 2024 – The Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) announced today that four companies will be provided vouchers to advance nuclear fuel and technologies. The vouchers provide companies access to the extensive nuclear research capabilities and expertise available across the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory complex. This is the first round of GAIN vouchers awarded for FY 2025.

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Independent Assessment of a Novel Heat Exchanger Concept for Open-Air Brayton Cycle, Nano Nuclear Energy

Nano will partner with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to perform an independent evaluation of the heat exchanger design. This will include the development of a computational model of the heat exchanger to help analyze the design and confirm certain attributes that are critical to the reactor operations.

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Development of Oxygen IR Calibration Standards for High-Purity Chloride Salts, Sigma-Aldrich

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is only one of two labs that can test the oxygen content in chloride salts. MS will partner with INL to verify alignment of test results between MS and INL regarding oxygen content of very high-purity chloride salts utilizing oxygen analyzers, identify, capture, and document best practices into a preliminary framework for a standardized test method and down-select appropriate materials and certification specifications for chloride salt reference standard(s).

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