Pittsburgh-based Ansys’ technology has been integrated into technology approved by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
NuScale Power, a nuclear technology company, used Ansys’ thermal and structural analyses solutions to help design a fully passive safety system for its NuScale SMR. The small modular reactor can supply carbon-free energy for commercial-scale hydrogen production, district heating, electrical generation, water desalinization, and other process heat applications.
NuScale engineers used Ansys’ solutions to determine velocities and temperatures for conjugate heat transfer and assess thermal stress and dynamic vibration.
“This is a milestone achievement for NuScale, the nuclear energy sector, and global energy market as a whole,” Walt Hearn, Ansys senior vice president of worldwide sales and customer excellence, said. “By implementing Ansys’ extensive multiphysics simulation and virtual prototyping, NuScale has made history in developing the first-ever, NRC-approved SMR. Ansys is committed to advancing sustainable energy solutions and this is a remarkable example of how we can leverage the predictive insights of simulation to create a cleaner future.”
NRC’s approval means utilities can leverage the approved product when applying for a combined license to build and operate a nuclear power plant.
NuScale expects its SMR technology will be deployed in the United States and Europe by 2030.