Researchers in Australia have developed a polymer-based electrolyte material that significantly improves sodium metal battery design, This new design is intended to replace lithium ion batteries in applications such as electric vehicles and cell phones. Traditionally sodium batteries have provided less energy density and fewer charge/discharge cycles than lithium ion. Sodium batteries built with this …
BWX Technologies traces its lineage back to Babcock, Wilcox & Co. which was founded in 1867. They were involved in the design of the first nuclear submarine (USS Nautilus) and the first commercial nuclear power plant (Shippingport). Today they divide their business units between government operations (reactors, service, and research for nuclear submarines and aircraft …
Copenhagen Atomics is looking to build a fleet of portable reactors that fit in a 40-foot container. They plan to provide “Energy as a service”, basically heat delivered at 560 degrees C via molten salt and metered by the MWh. They use spent nuclear fuel to get the reactor started, then burn Thorium in a …
Based in Copenhagen, Seaborg is working on compact molten salt reactors that can be deployed on a “power barge” (basically a ship). They don’t specify what fuel they are using other than it is molten. They are targeting the first power barge delivery in 2028. Website
Research firm that among other things is working on a reactor design called Mu*STAR, designed to burn nuclear waste as fuel. Thermal spectrum Molten salt Uranium fuel Website
A reactor design that fits in a truck trailer for portable power applications. Thermal spectrum Molten salt breeder Thorium fuel Also working on a chemical process (“Celex”) to reprocess spent fuel into useful materials and more fuel. Website
ThorCon’s predecessor company was a shipbuilder, building oil tankers. They are applying this construction expertise to building complete nuclear powerplants in ship’s hulls that can be floated to their destination. They can be returned to the factory for servicing if needed. By using existing shipyards for building the reactors, they should be able to reduce …
Started and made substantial progress on an advanced reactor design. Have since suspended operations and placed their designs in the public domain (open-source). Website
Small Modular Reactors that burn nuclear waste, and the processing needed to make that work. Technologies “under development”: SSR-W (Stable Salt Reactor – Waste) Fast spectrum reactor Fuel is recycled nuclear waste, presumably processed by the WATSS system below. SSR-U (Stable Salt Reactor – Uranium) Thermal spectrum reactor Uranium fuel WATSS (Waste to Stable Salt) …
Modular molten-salt reactors. Thermal spectrum Graphite moderated Molten fluoride salt Low-enriched U235 fuel. Could use Thorium. They call their reactor design IMSR. Not clear what the ‘I’ stands for, the MSR is clearly Molten Salt Reactor. The reactor is designed to be modular and replaceable after its 7-year life. Website