2024 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Small Modular Reactors: Answer to the World's Power Needs

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-19-2024

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Sondra Miller

Abstract

Public and private organizations are pushing to bring Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) into existence within the next decade because current energy production methods are expensive and inefficient. SMRs take the technology of nuclear reactors and replace what’s outdated with modern advances in a compact package. SMRs are designed to be factory-manufactured which allows for faster production, optimization of reliability, ease of transport, and modular capabilities. With their maximum power output of up to 300 MWe per reactor unit and small footprint, SMRs are ideal for remote power solutions.

SMRs by their nature, are designed to be factory manufactured, transportable and/or relocatable, and be suitable for the production of heat, desalinated water and other by-products that industrial sectors require. According to the DOE/EIA (DOE/EIA, 2011) the world energy consumption in 2035 will be more than double that of 1995. Specifically for nuclear power plants, it is forecasted that electricity generation will increase from 2.6 trillion kWh in 2008, to 4.9 trillion kWh in 2035, and with many nuclear reactors approaching the end of their productive life (Schneider et al., 2011) the market is expected to expand significantly. Overall SMRs are a feasible alternative solution to energy crisis and the benefits outweigh the initial cost.

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