Terrestrial signs up BWXT for technical support

Wednesday, 19 December 2018

Terrestrial Energy expects to commission the first IMSR power plants in the 2020s.

Simon Irish, CEO of Terrestrial Energy, said steam generators and heat exchangers are critical components of any power plant, and the IMSR is no exception.

"We identified this work early in our development as important to achieve a practical and efficient design that can be deployed quickly, and we are fortunate to be able to engage with BWXT Canada's world-class expertise in these areas," Irish said.

BWXT Canada has over 60 years of expertise and experience in the design, manufacturing, commissioning and service of nuclear power generation equipment. This includes Candu and pressurised water reactor steam generators, heat exchangers, nuclear fuel and fuel components, other critical plant components, parts and related plant services. Headquartered in Cambridge, Ontario, BWXT Canada is a subsidiary of BWX Technologies, Inc.

Terrestrial Energy describes its IMSR technology as “true innovation in cost reduction, versatility and functionality of nuclear power plants”. IMSR power plants will provide "zero-carbon, reliable, dispatchable, cost-competitive electric power and high-grade industrial heat for use in many industrial applications, such as chemical synthesis and desalination, and in so doing extend the application of nuclear energy far beyond electric power markets", it says.