The United States Department of Energy’s electric-powered microreactor prototype has now begun testing, as the primary coolant apparatus test, also known as PCAT, was initiated for the first time at Creative Engineers, Inc.’s manufacturing facility in New Freedom, Pennsylvania.
The DOE’s MARVEL microreactor, will be the first new reactor at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in more than four decades and is targeting to be operational in 2025. It is a sodium-potassium-cooled microreactor and is expected to generate 85 kilowatts of thermal energy. One of the most remarkable aspects of MARVEL is its integration into the INL’s inaugural nuclear microgrid. This groundbreaking development not only grants researchers access to test microreactor applications but also provides an ideal platform for evaluating systems designed for remote monitoring. Additionally, it paves the way for the advancement of autonomous control technologies within the realm of microreactor technology.
The PCAT was initially installed in May of this year, and researchers loaded the system with sodium-potassium and lead-bismuth coolants to demonstrate heat removal from its electrically heated core. Now, the DOE is collecting new data on the system’s temperatures and coolant flow to ensure the MARVEL reactor will meet expectations.
