Westinghouse sees a tech disrupter in its eVinci microreactor

Summary

Westinghouse's Waltz Mill facility is developing a nuclear microreactor named DaVinci, featuring a solid core and advanced heat pipes for passive cooling and autonomous operation. The design, which acts like a nuclear battery, can generate 5MW of electricity and 13MW of heat for applications like district heating. Targeting remote communities, DaVinci aims to replace costly diesel fuel for power generation.

Takeaways

• 🚗 Visited Westinghouse Walt's Mill facility to learn about their nuclear micro reactor.
• 🔥 Engineers are excited about 'DaVinci', a nuclear micro reactor in mid design.
• 🌟 Mike Shaco, senior VP, highlights the most exciting time in the industry.
• 💡 Westinghouse's design features solid core and advanced heat pipes for passive cooling.
• 🔋 The reactor is considered a 'nuclear battery' due to its autonomous operation capabilities.
• 🔧 Heat pipes transfer heat from the core to a heat exchanger using sodium liquid.
• 🔬 Los Alamos National Lab demonstrated the initial concept of heat pipes.
• 🧪 Waltz Mill Engineers are testing Avici's heat pipes to validate performance limits.
• 🌐 Westinghouse sees remote communities as the entry market for Avicii, replacing diesel.
• 🔌 DaVinci can generate 5 MW electricity and 13 MW of heat for district heating or steam.

Q & A

What is the location of the Westinghouse Walt's Mill facility?

The Westinghouse Walt's Mill facility is located about 40 miles Southeast of Pittsburgh.

What is the name of Westinghouse's nuclear micro reactor project?

The name of Westinghouse's nuclear micro reactor project is DaVinci.

Who is the senior VP for advanced reactors at Westinghouse?

Mike Shaco is the senior VP for advanced reactors at Westinghouse.

What are the key features of the DaVinci reactor design?

The DaVinci reactor design features an eventually solid core, advanced heat pipes for passive cooling, and autonomous operation and load following without the need for water or gas pumping.

How does the heat pipe system in DaVinci work?

The heat pipes in DaVinci transfer heat from one end to the other where it is captured in a heat exchanger for cooling. Each heat pipe contains a small amount of sodium liquid to move heat from the core and is fully encapsulated in a sealed pipe.

What is the origin of the heat pipe concept used in DaVinci?

The initial concept of the heat pipe used in DaVinci came from Los Alamos National Lab.

What kind of testing is being conducted at Waltz Mill for DaVinci's heat pipes?

Engineers at Waltz Mill are testing DaVinci's heat pipes to demonstrate their performance limits by using electric heaters to simulate temperatures that would come from nuclear fuel.

What is the potential market for DaVinci according to Westinghouse?

Westinghouse sees remote communities as the entry market for DaVinci, as it could replace diesel as a power generating fuel, which is expensive to transport.

What is the electricity and heat generation capacity of DaVinci?

DaVinci can generate five megawatts of electricity and 13 megawatts of heat with exhaust heat from the power conversion system.

What is the potential use for the exhaust heat from DaVinci's power conversion system?

The exhaust heat from DaVinci's power conversion system can be used for district heating or low-temperature steam.

How does Westinghouse view the role of micro reactors like DaVinci in the future of nuclear energy?

Westinghouse sees micro reactors like DaVinci as disruptive and complementary to grid-based larger reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs), completing the circle of nuclear energy solutions.