Instrumentation and Control Design for Small Modular Reactors

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are one of the most compelling options for meeting the growing clean energy demands of the U.S. While safer and costing less to build and operate than their conventional counterparts, there are fundamental design differences between traditional commercial nuclear power plants and SMRs that require new instrumentation and control (I&C) sensors and measurement techniques which will be provided under this project. This is a proposal for development of new sensors capable of meeting SMR measurement needs; adaptation of existing and emerging sensing technologies capable of being deployed in SMRs, and development of sensor qualification standards for implementation of new sensors into SMRs unique operating environment. In Phase I, the proposing firm, AMS, investigated the challenges and measurement needs of leading SMRs. The project then focused on development and evaluation of four new sensor technologies for SMRs. The project was successful in demonstrating the feasibility and potential of these new sensor technologies for SMR I&C measurements. The goal of the Phase II project is to develop new sensors capable of meeting SMR measurement needs, adapt existing and emerging sensing technologies capable of being deployed in SMRs, and to develop qualification standards for new sensors for implementation into SMRs unique operating environment. The produce of this work will be sold to SMR vendors both domestically and internationally in the form of expertise for I&C design, qualification of modern I&C according to the specific requirements of SMRs, test services that will support initial plant startups, and ongoing diagnostic services that will support long term deployment of SMRs within the United States energy market as well as support continued operation of existing nuclear power plants to 60 years and beyond. Additional beneficiaries of this updated technology include NASA (who is currently developing extra-terrestrial reactors) and the United States military (who has expressed interest in portable, long-term energy sources.)