US-based Terrestrial Energy and NRG (Netherlands) on 5 February announced a contract for materials testing at NRG’s High-Flux Reactor in Petten.
The materials include graphite that will be used in the important components of Terrestrial Energy’s Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR). Under the agreement, NRG will provide "expert technical services" to support Terrestrial Energy’s in-core materials testing and development of its IMSR power plant. NRG will offer technical advice on test design and preparation, high-flux irradiation of test specimens, and in-process and post-irradiation examinations of the test materials.
NRG CEO Huub Cuijpers said: “Innovative Generation IV reactors have truly transformative potential and Terrestrial Energy’s IMSR molten salt reactor is a promising design. We are excited to be working with Terrestrial Energy and supporting IMSR development.”
Simon Irish, CEO of Terrestrial Energy said: “With the benefit of the high-flux facility and NRG’s clear expertise, we anticipate time-efficient materials testing and qualification that will advance IMSR engineering and regulatory activities.”
In addition to advancing the IMSR’s materials testing programme, the agreement reinforces Terrestrial Energy’s partnership with the European Union’s scientific community. In March 2018, Terrestrial Energy signed a technical services agreement with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Karlsruhe, Germany, which focused on confirmatory studies of IMSR fuel and primary coolant salts.
Photo: Schematic of the IMSR (Source: Terrestrial Energy)
