Published: February 01, 2011
Holtec International Subsidiary SMR, LLC Launches the Detailed Design of the Holtec Inherently Safe Modular Underground Reactor (HI-SMUR)
MARLTON, N.J. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Holtec International is pleased to announce that the proof-of-principle
studies on Holtec's 140 MWe (Min.) modular reactor that began a year ago
have been successfully completed. The new reactor is named HI-SMUR 140,
derived from Holtec Inherently
Safe Modular Underground
Reactor. As the above words in HI-SMUR's
name indicate, its core is located completely underground, it is
operated by gravity induced flow (no reactor coolant pump), it does not
rely on off-site power for shutdown (Inherently Safe), and it can
be installed as a single unit or a cluster at a site (Modular).
Passive in every aspect of its operation, HI-SMUR's principal technical
mission is "safety and security first." HI-SMUR's principal safety
credentials derive from locating the core underground in a reactor
vessel that has no penetrations to provide a drain-down path for the
reactor coolant. Eliminating the reactor coolant pump and the need for
emergency or off-site power to cool the reactor core in the event of a
forced shutdown, are among the distinguishing design features of HI-SMUR
that define its mission of utmost safety and security. Other major
features of HI-SMUR are its small footprint, minuscule site boundary
dose, large inventory of coolant in the reactor vessel and its
modularity, i.e., the freedom to build the number of units at a site to
best suit the owner's projected power needs. The expected duration of
the construction life cycle is 24 months.
The annex 140 in HI-SMUR's name indicates the electric output at full
power under adverse heat sink conditions. The waste heat from HI-SMUR's
power generation can be rejected through a water cooled or air cooled
condenser or a combination thereof. Thus, HI-SMUR is not only a clean
source of energy; it is also eco-friendly.
Practically all capital equipment for HI-SMUR will be shop manufactured.
The site construction will principally consist of reinforced concrete
structures, electrical, I&C, and component assembly work. We expect
HI-SMUR to create a number of new white and green collar jobs across the
U.S. through the Company's supplier chain and in the Holtec shops
located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Orrville, Ohio; and Lakeland,
Florida. A similar boost in local employment will occur in the countries
that invite the HI-SMUR technology into their power generation mix.
On January 3, 2011, the HI-SMUR development program was transferred from
Holtec International to a newly established Holtec company, SMR, LLC. The
development of HI-SMUR does not rely on external funding from any
private, public, or government source. The program is sufficiently
funded to carry out detailed design, analyses, licensing, and other
activities to bring the program to the pre-construction phase, ensuring
that SMR, LLC will not be hobbled by lack of capital. A number of
prominent suppliers of nuclear technologies and systems from around the
globe have been selected to support the HI-SMUR program. An array of
patents based on a provisional filing in February 2010 are now being
submitted for intellectual property protection under U.S. and
international patent and trademark laws. License application is
scheduled to be filed by the close of 2012.
Holtec International is a diversified energy technology company with its
world headquarters in Jupiter, Florida and corporate technology center
in Marlton, New Jersey. Holtec is widely recognized as a global leader
in the technologies to store and transport nuclear fuel and as a
provider of capital equipment and services to commercial power plants.
Holtec International
Joy Russell
Sales and Marketing Manager
856-797-0900
ext.3655
j.russell@holtec.com
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