NuScale

NuScale Power LLC

Type	Private
Industry	Nuclear power
Founded	Corvallis, Oregon, USA
Headquarters	Corvallis, OR 97330
Key people	Paul G. Lorenzini, PhD CEO Jose N. Reyes, PhD CTO Tom Marcille COO John “Jay” Surina CFO Bruce Landrey CMO Ed Wallace - Sr. Vice President Regulatory Affairs Scott Bailey - Sr. Vice President Supply Chain
Website	www.nuscalepower.com

Schematic diagram of the NuScale reactor

NuScale Power LLC is a company formed to construct and sell dedicated design of relatively small (160 MW thermal, 45 MW electric, hence 28% efficient) nuclear reactors, which they claim will be modular, inexpensive, inherently safe, and proliferation-resistant.

History

The basic design is based on the MASLWR (Multi-Application Small Light Water Reactor) developed at Oregon State University (OSU) in the early 2000s, in cooperation with the Idaho National Laboratory. OSU licensed the technology to NuScale, and owns 1 to 3 percent of the private company as of 2011.^[1] OSU operates a small nuclear reactor at its campus in Corvallis where NuScale is headquartered.

In March 2011, the company announced most employees would be laid off as it sought funds to continue operations after their biggest investor, Michael Kenwood Group, went bankrupt.^[2] The investment group had been sued by the Federal government, while the fund manager had been indicted by the Federal government on fraud charges for allegedly running a Ponzi scheme.^[2] However, in July 2011, NuScale Power announced it will restore operations and will bring back workers, as the company has received bridge-financing from individual investors.^[3] In October 2011, Fluor Corporation purchased 55 percent of NuScale in a $30 million deal, ending the financial crisis created by the Michael Kenwood Group ordeal.^[1]

Technology

NuScale's technology has the following attributes:^[4]

• Thermal capacity – 160 MW_th
• Electrical capacity – 45 MW_e
• Capacity factor – 90 percent
• Dimensions – 18 x 4.3 meters cylindrical containment vessel module containing reactor and steam generator
• Weight – ~ 500 tons as shipped from fabrication
• Transportation – Barge, truck or train
• Manufacturing – Can be forged and fabricated at any mid-size facility
• Cost – Numerous advantages due to simplicity, modular design, volume manufacturing and shorter construction times
• Fuel – Standard LWR fuel in 17 x 17 configuration, each assembly 6 feet in length; 24-month refueling cycle with fuel enriched less than 4.95 percent

Competing designs

• mPower by Babcock & Wilcox Company
• Toshiba 4S
• Hyperion Power Generation

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Rogoway, Mike (October 12, 2011). "NuScale completes $30 million rescue deal, sells majority stake to Texas-based Fluor Corp.". The Oregonian. http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/10/nuscale_completes_30_million_r.html. Retrieved October 12, 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Rogoway, Mike (March 17, 2011). "NuScale Power, still seeking rescue, will lay off most employees tomorrow". The Oregonian. http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/03/nuscale_power_still_seeking_re.html. 
3. ^ "NuScale Power brings back workers". OregonBusiness, July 06, 2011.
4. ^ Facts about the NuScale system and technology. NuScale.

External links

• NuScale Power
• IAEA Advanced Reactors Information System: NuScale Power Modular and Scalable Reactor
• NRC Advanced Reactors Info—Official Nuclear Regulatory Commission page about the NuScale design.
• "Science Illustrated: A New Scale for Nuclear Power" - The New York Times
• "Mini Reactors Show Promise for Clean Nuclear Power's Future" - Popular Mechanics