Copyright Interesting Engineering
United Kingdom-based Rolls-Royce SMR has entered into a contract with Canada-based nuclear engineering firm BWX Technologies Inc. for support on the development of the Rolls-Royce SMR. Under the contract and the memorandum of understanding, BWX Technologies (BWXT) will design the nuclear steam generators for the Rolls-Royce SMR. The Rolls-Royce SMR is a 470 megawatt (electric) small pressurized water reactor. Each reactor uses three steam generators, as per a press release by BWXT. The Canadian subsidiary of BWXT, based in Ontario, has expertise in the production of steam generators, as it has shipped over 315 units to locations around the world over the course of 60 years. Contract and MoU between Rolls-Royce SMR and BWXT Under the MoU, Rolls-Royce SMR will purchase nuclear steam generators for multiple reactor units from BWXT. The MoU also includes developing a localization plan for future manufacturing work and other activities, if necessary, to support the Rolls-Royce SMR deployment in the global market. Ruth Todd, Rolls-Royce SMR’s Operations and Supply Chain Director, stated that the agreement with BWXT for the design of the nuclear steam generators – reinforced by an MoU to support the first units in a global fleet of Rolls-Royce SMRs – is another major stride forward for the organization. “Sourcing these critical components from world-leading suppliers is part of our ‘designed for delivery’ approach – combining modularization and proven nuclear technology – significantly reducing cost, construction time and removing project risk,” Todd said. “This agreement is a strong example of how BWXT is positioned to enable advanced nuclear reactor developers around the world to meet the growing demand for clean, reliable energy,” said John MacQuarrie, president for BWXT Commercial Operations. MacQuarrie further said that BWXT will look to develop this collaboration and build out a robust “nuclear manufacturing chain.” Rolls-Royce SMR has multiple SMR commitments in Europe, having been selected as the preferred bidder in the Great British Energy – Nuclear SMR competition, and by European utility CEZ to build up to three gigawatts of new nuclear power in the Czech Republic. The small modular nuclear reactor and steam generator Rolls-Royce says that each unit of the nuclear reactor will be able to generate 470 megawatts of electricity, which is equivalent to more than 150 onshore wind turbines. Further, it will generate 1358MWth, equivalent to more than 45,000 domestic boilers. The company says each unit will create enough low-carbon energy to power one million homes for 60 years. It has also been selected in the Great British Nuclear (GBE-N) small modular reactor competition. The pressurized water reactor (PWR) is a symmetrically arranged, three-loop, close-coupled reactor. Rolls-Royce SMR says the plant design provides multiple layers of safety, redundancy, and back-up systems – meeting the highest standards of safety, security, safeguards, and environmental protection. In the PWR, heat generated in the nuclear core is transferred to the water flowing over the fuel. This water is prevented from boiling by keeping the whole primary system at a high pressure, making the heat transfer much more efficient. The heated water then flows through to one of the three steam generators that pass the heat to the lower-pressure secondary side, which is allowed to boil, giving the steam that is then driven through a turbine that powers the generator, pushing electricity through to the grid.
