Scientists at the MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory have devised an unconventional plan for accelerating the development of a small, safe, cheap nuclear reactor: they want to build a prototype that piggybacks on their existing facility.
Since the planned one-megawatt demonstration reactor would be incapable of sustaining a fission reaction on its own, the researchers believe they could avoid building a standalone experimental prototype, which the Nuclear Regulatory Commission generally requires. That site selection and licensing process can take a decade or longer, so the hope is that this approach could cost hundreds of millions of dollars less and take half as much time to build.
[...] The researchers specifically want to test designs for a small, transportable molten-salt-cooled reactor, intended for off-grid purposes such as generating electricity for remote villages or worksites. Molten-salt reactors, first researched in the 1950s, are a subject of growing interest in the field because of the potential they offer for greater safety and lower costs compared with traditional nuclear power plants.
http://www.nextbigfuture.com/2017/03/mit-wants-to-build-add-on-1-mw-sub.html
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Monday April 03 2017, @07:31PM
Not a direct answer, but you reminded me of a pet peeve:
Hollywood nuclear scientist: "The reactor is reaching critical! OMGOMGWTFBBQ!!!11!! [ominous music, Red Countdown Clock set to Hero Saving The Day]"
Realistic nuclear engineer: "The reactor is reaching critical state, pumps working, backup pumps ready, turbine room ready, maintenance over on schedule, good job, people"