PROJECT GOALS AND BUILDING PROGRAM The FRONTIER microreactor research platform and visitor center is a comprehensive initiative aimed at advancing nuclear research and community engagement at Penn State. The program goals are encapsulated in the "5-E" framework, which includes Engineering Research, Engagement with the community, Energy Production, Environmental Sustainability, and Efficiency of cost and schedule deployment. An important goal of the program is expanding community engagement through the establishment of a visitor center, which will be operational before the actual facility construction begins. This center will provide educational and interactive experiences to the public, fostering a better understanding of nuclear energy and its benefits. Platform Versatility • The FRONTIER platform, while designed specifically for the current Westinghouse eVinci reactor design, should also have the flexibility to potentially use updated Westinghouse designs, if the need arises. • From a functional standpoint, fixed safety and security related facility elements such as shielding and physical barriers should be designed for eVinci and potential updates. • The variable and reactor specific elements such as controls will be designed based on the eVinci reactor, however these elements should be designed in a modular form to allow for their replacement if necessary. • A second microreactor bay will be needed for a future microreactor that will be delivered, installed, and prepared in advance of end-of-life for the initial microreactor for transition of operations. The initial microreactor will remain onsite for an extended time following the transition to enable decommissioning and preparation for transport to a Westinghouse processing facility. • The facility must support compliance with all federal, state, and local regulatory requirements for a research and test reactor facility to include delivery and removal of a microreactor. Research Adaptability and Building Functionality The initial concept is to design and construct a new facility bringing together reactor operations, research, outreach, and education. The reactor operations spaces should enable continuous operations using the Westinghouse e-Vinci microreactor technology (with the flexibility outlined above). This would include 2 microreactor bays along with the power conversion and support equipment for an operating microreactor. Additional spaces will house state-of-the-art facilities providing: 1) Reactor bays and supporting equipment (25,000 gsf) 2) Research laboratories, faculty offices, and the community visitor center with a Digital Twin 3D visualization space (25,000 gsf) 3) Optional: Classroom, training spaces (25,000 gsf) Options for site arrangement might be required to accommodate safety and security requirements for eVinci deployment. Security for research and test reactor facilities and handling radioactive materials with controlled personnel and vehicle access will be required in the site design. The FRONTIER platform will provide the potential for integrated energy systems research by inclusion of renewable energy infrastructure into the FRONTIER platform. • Support the development of microreactor technology by enabling end-users to test the possibility of employing the generated heat, radiation, electricity or a combination thereof for their specific use-case. o Efficient energy storage systems o turbine for electricity delivery o Isotope production • The FRONTIER project may include associated space adjacent to the reactor: o Laboratory space* o Faculty offices o Student classrooms o External research space (PIMA members / other industry collaborators) o Training simulator (digital twin) to be designed to emulate a real operating unit. This will include utilizing real data from equipment qualification and computer simulations. The simulator will also include stochasticity to reflect real operating data point uncertainties. o Visitor Center for community engagement providing educational and interactive experiences for a wide range of audiences.
