Description
This project evaluates the design, safety, and economic feasibility of a Deep Borehole Pressurized Water Reactor (DB-PWR), inspired by the Deep Fission white paper design to the U.S. NRC. The DB-PWR is a novel nuclear micro-reactor concept designed to be deployed in a cased borehole approximately one mile underground. Operating at a depth where the ambient hydrostatic pressure naturally matches the primary loop operating pressure (~160 atm), the design aims to inherently eliminate large-break Loss of Coolant Accidents (LOCAs) and minimize the need for a thick Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV). The reactor relies on natural circulation for primary coolant flow and uses the surrounding geology and a mile-long column of water as its ultimate heat sink and primary containment.
Department Nuclear & Radiological Engineering
Sponsor N/A
Advisor Bojan Petrovic
Primary Email Contact colingold@gatech.edu
Table # Y51

Members

Name Major Hometown
Colin Gold NRE Pensacola, FL
Derek Lewis NRE Oakton, VA
Kendal Chunn NRE Mt. Pleasant, SC