Development of Principal Design Criteria for the Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR)
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Abstract
Terrestrial Energy Inc. (TEI) is developing the Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) advanced reactor to supply heat directly to industrial facilities or generate electrical power. The IMSR is a Generation IV advanced small modular reactor (SMR) designed to meet modern codes and standards and achieve excellence in nuclear safety. The long-term goal of the project is to design, license, and commercialize the IMSR plant by the early 2030s. TEI is the first advanced reactor vendor to have successfully completed CNSC’s both phases of the Vendor Design Review. In addition, TEI’s early engagement with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is an important step for licensing the IMSR in the US. As an effort to reduce regulatory risk and to meet U. S. regulatory requirements, TEI has developed Principal Design Criteria (PDC) applicable to the IMSR design. The TEI effort uses Regulatory Guide 1.232 that the NRC published to support developing PDC of a non-LWR and has adapted the guidance to specifically model the key systems, structures and components that support the IMSR safety case. The PDC proposed for the IMSR will provide reasonable assurance that the fundamental safety functions will be performed and that the plant can be operated without undue risk to the public health and safety. Keywords: TEI, IMSR, advanced reactor, SMR, licensing, PDC
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