South Korea's Doosan Enerbility has begun forging the first module that will be deployed as part of a NuScale VOYGR-6 small modular reactor (SMR) power plant for the Carbon Free Power Project (CFPP) in the USA. "The first pours of molten steel represent a significant breakthrough into the manufacturing phase for NuScale, Doosan and the SMR industry," NuScale said on its Facebook page.
NuScale placed its first order with Doosan Enerbility at the end of 2022 for the upper reactor pressure vessel (RPV) long-lead material production. In 2019, Doosan Enerbility (then Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction) signed a collaboration agreement with NuScale for the supply of NuScale Power Modules and other equipment. Doosan, together with Korean financial investors, has made an equity investment of nearly $104m in NuScale Power.
In preparation for the long-lead materials order, the two companies initiated an effort in April 2022 to complete the manufacturing for the forging dies for the upper RPV. The subsequent order, placed in December, includes heavy forgings, steam generator tubes, and weld material for six upper RPVs. NuScale said the total estimated weight of the materials for six upper RPVs is more than 2000 tonnes.
The CFPP is to be built at the US Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory site near Idaho Falls and plans to use six NuScale 77 MWe power modules to generate 462 MWe. NuScale said the plant could begin operations in 2029, and Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems hopes to submit an application for a construction and operation licence to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission in January 2024.
Image: Forging of parts for NuScale's SMR (courtesy of NuScale)
