Have you ever changed a gas cylinder for a barbecue? Well, imagine being able to do the same thing with a nuclear reactor. That's more or less what eVinci, the mini nuclear reactor developed by Westinghouse, promises. A technology that, it says the US company, will simplify nuclear energy. How does it work, and what could it mean for the future of nuclear energy? Let's take a look.
The Miniature Future of Nuclear Power
The mini nuclear reactor eVinci is making waves in the energy world, and not just because of its small size. The approach, which we could call “plug and play,” could be a very interesting key. What makes eVinci so special? First of all, its size. With a diameter of less than 3 meters, This microreactor is significantly smaller than its bigger brothers. Despite its small size, however, it is capable of generating up to 5 megawatts of electricity, enough to power thousands of homes.
The real novelty, however, lies in its construction philosophy. Yes, because eVinci was designed to operate for over eight years on a single fuel load1. When will it run out? The entire mini nuclear reactor It can be shut down, loaded onto a truck and taken back to the factory to be recharged or replaced with a new reactor. A bit like when we change the gas cylinder, but on a much larger scale.
A mini nuclear heart reactor that has no moving parts
La technology eVinci draws inspiration from nuclear reactors used in space. One of the most surprising features is the absence of moving parts during normal operation. No pumps, no valves, no turbines in constant motion. But how is this possible?
The secret lies in TRISO (TRi-structural ISOtropic) fuel, an advanced technology that encases uranium in tiny spheres the size of poppy seeds. These spheres are then encased in carbon and ceramic pellets, creating a fuel that is extremely resistant to heat and corrosion.
The cooling system also has some peculiarities. Instead of using water or other circulating liquids, the eVinci mini nuclear reactor uses a solid steel monolith to absorb heat from the core. This heat is then passively transported through alkaline heat pipes, using the phase changes of the alkali metal to cool the reactor and convert the heat into electricity.
Safety and versatility: the promises of eVinci
Westinghouse claims the eVinci is inherently safe because the TRISO fuel is designed to produce a self-limiting nuclear reaction that cannot get out of control. Plus, in an emergency, a rotating drum passively repositions itself to shut everything down. But safety isn’t the eVinci’s only selling point. Its compactness and portability make it suitable for a variety of applications. In addition to civilian power generation, Westinghouse sees potential uses in remote locations, mining operations, industrial plants, military bases, and data centers. For energy mix enthusiasts (i.e. NOT nuclear omnibus and renewable omnibus, at least until proven otherwise), the eVinci could integrate with renewables, providing a stable power source when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing.
Is the future mini?
The eVinci’s path to commercialization is accelerating. Westinghouse recently submitted a Preliminary Safety Design Report (PSDR) to the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC), marking a major milestone for the device.
“This PSDR submission is a critical step toward commercial operation of the Westinghouse eVinci microreactor,” said Jon Ball, president of eVinci Technologies at Westinghouse. “We are targeting the deployment of many eVinci microreactors around the world by the end of the decade.”
eVinci Mini Nuclear Reactor: Energy Promise or Yet Another Overly Ambitious Challenge?
Il mini nuclear reactor eVinci is undoubtedly a bold innovation in the field of nuclear energy. Its promise of clean, safe and flexible energy is attractive, especially at a time when the fight against climate change requires zero-emission energy solutions. However, as with any new technology, especially in the nuclear field, there are recurring questions that always require answers. How will the spent fuel be managed? Currently, there is no established commercial process for the reprocessing of spent TRISO-HALEU fuel. What will the actual production and maintenance costs be? And, above all, how will the public react to the idea of having a mini nuclear reactor much closer to inhabited areas (“8000 square meters are enough” for a plant)?
eVinci's journey to commercialization will surely be watched with great interest by industry experts, environmentalists and politicians. If it delivers on its promises, it could indeed represent a significant turning point in the global energy landscape. If not, it will end up in the company of a few more failures, even recent, of the sector. What do you think? Would you be in favor of installing a mini nuclear reactor in your community? Do you believe that this technology can really help solve the energy challenges of the future? The discussion is open, and your point of view matters.
- For those interested, I will go into more detail about the fuel used in this mini nuclear reactor. It is TRISO (TRIstructural-ISOtropic) which is made up of tiny particles, each of which contains a central core of enriched uranium (HALEU). HALEU stands for “High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium,” which is low-enriched but high-grade uranium. In this case, the uranium is enriched to 19,75% U-235. This uranium core is then covered with three protective layers: a porous carbon layer, a dense carbon layer, and an outer layer of silicon carbide. These layers protect the uranium core and trap the fission products. TRISO particles are very small, about the size of a poppy seed. They can be compressed into cylindrical pellets or marble-sized spheres for use in reactors. TRISO fuel is considered very safe because it can withstand extremely high temperatures without melting, and is more resistant to corrosion and oxidation. In short, TRISO-HALEU is an advanced nuclear fuel that combines an enriched uranium core with protective layers to increase safety and efficiency. If you need more information, you can find them here. ↩︎
