Westinghouse unveiled a new small modular reactor design Thursday, introducing the latest addition the the company's lineup the same week the Obama administration proposed $67 million be spent on licensing and technical support for SMRs.





With their potential to reduce construction costs and built times, SMRs lately have attracted the attention of lawmakers and utilities alike. All primary components of the Westinghouse SMR, a 200 MWe integral pressurized water reactor, are located in the reactor vessel. It features passive safety systems and a reduced number of components compared to other reactor designs. Many of the reactor's parts can be manufactured in factories off-site and delivered by truck or rail. With their potential to reduce construction costs and built times, SMRs lately have attracted the attention of lawmakers and utilities alike. All primary components of the Westinghouse SMR, a 200 MWe integral pressurized water reactor, are located in the reactor vessel. It features passive safety systems and a reduced number of components compared to other reactor designs. Many of the reactor's parts can be manufactured in factories off-site and delivered by truck or rail.





“The Westinghouse Small Modular Reactor enables us to bring together all that we know about operating nuclear plants, designing and licensing plants, and passive safety into a small design that will provide additional power options for our customers," Kate Jackson, Westinghouse senior vice president for research and technology, said in a release.

Much of the Westinghouse SMR's design draws from the company's AP1000 design. Westinghouse, according to its website, is part of a consortium currently building four AP1000s in China. Five utilities in the United States also are considering the design for new nuclear plants.





If those projects move forward, the latest design will put Westinghouse in a leading position to take part in a program proposed by the Department of Energy to encourage the development of SMR technology. The proposed 2012 budget for DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy would leverage $67 million in federal funds with private SMR investment.

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- Read the Westinghouse Small Modular Reactor Fact Sheet here

- An interactive presentation on the new reactor can be found on the Westinghouse site

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Westinghouse Video on the company's Small Modular Reactor:

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(Video Source/Credit : Westinghouse)

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