NuScale Power, LLC, announced today the launching of the Western Initiative for Nuclear (WIN) —a broad, multi-western state collaboration — to study the demonstration and deployment of a multi-module NuScale Small Modular Reactor (SMR) plant at a site like the Idaho National Laboratory location that would be operational by 2024. NuScale, which grew out of Oregon State technology, announced the WIN initiative following the Western Governors’ Association annual meeting held in Park City, Utah, this past weekend.

More…

–Source: NuScale press release

 

Vibrations test facilityFlow-induced vibrations can have devastating consequences. For example, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington collapsed when strong winds induced vibrations that matched the natural frequency of the bridge. In California, Edison International decided to permanently shut down the nearly new San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station after vibrations in the steam generator caused alloy tubes to rub against each other, resulting in leakage and unsafe operating conditions. Continue reading