Lorenzini stressed NuScale’s commitment to submitting a high quality design certification document (DCD) of its small modular reactor to the NRC for review
– By Stephen Heiser –
NuScale Power remains on track to submit its design application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in early 2012 with the goal of having a power plant that uses its modular, scalable reactor technology in operation by 2018, CEO Paul Lorenzini told the agency’s commissioners at a briefing.
“We are completely committed to commercializing our technology and have made substantial progress in providing the NRC with the data it will need to license it,” Lorenzini said.
Lorenzini stressed NuScale’s commitment to submitting a high quality design certification document (DCD) of its small modular reactor to the NRC for review. Strengths the company brings to the process include:
• Existence since 2003 of an integral test facility at Oregon State University that is used to validate the system’s ability to meet safety and reliability requirements.
• A mature design based on time-tested light-water reactor technology with an improved cooling system employing natural convection rather than large pumps.
• Early completion of independent reviews of the safety of the design under various operating scenarios.
• Plans to build a multi-module control room simulator to demonstrate the methods to be used to operate several reactor modules running simultaneously in a single facility.
Lorenzini complimented the NRC and its staff for its efforts to work with NuScale and provide guidance on the tests and data the company needs to provide to meet the agency’s rigorous safety review. He said the company intends to work with the NRC on early identification and resolution of any issues that might affect safety or the licensing timeline.
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