EAGL-1 is designed to use multiple fuel types and enrichment levels.
A Carmel-based nuclear energy company has submitted a regulatory engagement plan for its small modular reactor (SMR). First American Nuclear (FANCO) submitted the plan to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
The company had developed the EAGL-1 liquid metal fast reactor (LMFR), the only reactor of any kind in the U.S. to use lead-bismuth cooling technology.
FANCO revealed that each EAGL-1 unit produces 240 megawatts electric (MWe) and 600 megawatts thermal (MWt). First American Nuclear claims that a standard six-reactor cluster can power approximately 1.5 million homes, yet with a 10-times smaller footprint than sites with similar power outputs.
Significant milestone on the path toward a construction permit
The recent filing to NRC formally opens the company’s pre-application engagement with the NRC and marks a significant milestone on the path toward a construction permit.
The company also revealed that EAGL-1 is designed from the ground up to be licensable under the NRC’s existing regulatory framework, setting it apart from many other advanced reactor designs. While EAGL-1 is being licensed, FANCO revealed that its customers get immediate gas-fueled power to bridge the gap to full nuclear energy delivery, with minimal equipment and modification costs.
Lead-bismuth technology
“FANCO designed EAGL-1 to be licensed under the NRC standards that have kept us safe for decades,” said Mike Reinboth, CEO of FANCO. “This country can’t afford to wait; we need a credible pathway to nuclear now and that is FANCO’s mission.”
The company also revealed that the lead-bismuth technology used in the reactor is proven, but only a small number of people in the U.S. have the technical and operational expertise to commercialize it. Lead-bismuth operates at low pressure and does not react violently with air or water, eliminating the need for high-pressure systems, large containment domes, and costly intermediate loops.
The result is a simpler, more compact reactor design with fewer components and reduced complexity, according to FANCO.
Reactor designed to use multiple fuel types and enrichment levels
The company also highlighted that EAGL-1 is designed to use multiple fuel types and enrichment levels, making it secure and cost-effective in any supply chain situation. Although it’s a fast-spectrum advanced reactor, EAGL-1 can operate on uranium oxide (UO2), which is the cost-effective and ubiquitous fuel form used by most traditional reactors today.
It also operates with mixed oxide (MOX) fuel, transuranic (TRU) fuels, recycled uranium, as well as fuels derived from existing stockpiles of material that would otherwise remain long-term waste. Other advanced reactors use Tristructural-isotropic (TRISO) or metallic fuels, which require substantial R&D and first-of-a-kind fabrication facilities, according to details available.
The FANCO design separates EAGL-1 and its core safety systems from the balance-of-plant (BOP) power-conversion block, which includes the turbine, generator, condenser, and condensate systems.
Additionally, the FANCO BOP will comprise entirely commercial off-the-shelf systems, which can be sourced from established industrial suppliers. This proprietary system, called Bridge Power, will let FANCO construct and commission the BOP using conventional commercial package boilers while EAGL-1 is under NRC review, according to a press release.
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Prabhat, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, is a tech and defense journalist. While he enjoys writing on modern weapons and emerging tech, he has also reported on global politics and business. He has been previously associated with well-known media houses, including the International Business Times (Singapore Edition) and ANI.