Mobile nuclear power reactors is goal of DOD tech initiative
David Wagman | March 11, 2020The Department of Defense has awarded BWX Technologies, Westinghouse Government Services and X-energy contracts to begin design work on a mobile nuclear reactor prototype under an initiative called Project Pele.
The project involves the development of a safe, mobile and advanced nuclear microreactor to support a variety of missions, such as generating electric power for remote operating bases. After a two-year design-maturation period, one of the three companies may be selected to build and demonstrate a prototype.
The companies will work to develop a system that can be safely and rapidly moved by road, rail, sea or air and quickly set up and shut down. Source: Department of EnergyThe companies will work to develop a system that can be safely and rapidly moved by road, rail, sea or air and quickly set up and shut down, with a design that is "inherently safe,” according to a DOD statement.
BWX Technologies, Inc., was awarded $13,500,000, X-energy LLC $14,309,000 and Westinghouse Government Services $11,953,036.
BWX is a former unit of Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises and supplies nuclear components and fuel to the U.S. government; provides technical, management and site services; and supplies manufactured components, services and fuel for the commercial nuclear power industry.
X-energy is developing advanced small modular nuclear systems based on high-temperature gas-cooled reactor technology.
Westinghouse Government Services supports U.S. government needs in nuclear operations and decommissioning, and in engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM). It is currently a partner in managing operations of the DOE depleted uranium hexafluoride conversion facilities in Ohio and Kentucky.
Design feasibility
In order to technically assess the feasibility of a mobile reactor, high-fidelity engineering designs will be pursued to confirm its safety, resiliency and reliability, and to reduce technical, regulatory and manufacturing risks.
DOD uses approximately 30 terrawatt hours of electricity per year and more than 10 million gallons of fuel per day. The statement said that a mobile nuclear reactor would enable units to carry "a nearly endless power supply, enabling expansion and sustainment of operations for extended periods of time anywhere on the planet."
Microreactors could reduce the need for investments in costly power infrastructure. In civilian applications, they could be relocated to support disaster response work and provide temporary or long-term support to critical infrastructure like hospitals, as well as remote civilian locations where delivery of electricity and power is difficult.
The engineering design phase of Project Pele will continue for up to two years. DOD will then assess whether a microreactor capable of meeting necessary safety requirements is feasible.
If it must be Nuclear power it should be Thorium.. It fit for everything the DoD wants and is safer to transport. If it dumped over no one dies unless they are under it. The cost for the fuel is much lower and needs less refining. The only reason for the military to not want Thorium is the waste byproducts cannot be turned into nuclear weapons.