Abilene Christian University
🇺🇸 Abilene, US · Active
Also known as ACU, NEXT Lab, Molten Salt Research Reactor, MSRR
Abilene Christian University in Texas hosts the NEXT Lab (Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing), which researches molten salt reactors. It leads the Natura Resources Research Alliance with Georgia Tech, Texas A&M and the University of Texas at Austin to build the Molten Salt Research Reactor, the first deployment of Natura Resources' 1-megawatt thermal MSR-1 design, which ACU will host and own. The construction permit application went to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission on 15 August 2022, and the NRC granted the permit on 16 September 2024. ACU's own timeline says the reactor will reach criticality in 2026.
- Sector
- Fission
- Technology
- Molten salt reactor
- Role
- University, Research institute, Operator
It is the operator of record for Molten Salt Research Reactor (Abilene Christian University) (planned).
3 regulatory milestones are tracked here, all anchored to a docket reference in the regulator's own record.
Terms
- Molten salt reactor
- Fuel DISSOLVED in the salt, which in most designs is fuel carrier and coolant at once. Distinct from a salt-cooled reactor with solid fuel; the two are often confused. Moderator, where one is used at all, is a separate design choice from the salt: thermal-spectrum MSRs are typically graphite-moderated, fast-spectrum MSRs carry no moderator.
Devices
Licensing
- 2022-08-12achievedApplication submittedMolten Salt Research Reactor construction permit application submitted · US Nuclear Regulatory CommissionDocket 50-610 · ADAMS ML22227A201
- 2022-11-18achievedAccepted for reviewMolten Salt Research Reactor construction permit application accepted for docketing · US Nuclear Regulatory CommissionDocket 50-610 · ADAMS ML22313A097 (acceptance letter)
- 2024-09-16achievedConstruction permit issuedNRC construction permit CPRR-124 issued for the Molten Salt Research Reactor · US Nuclear Regulatory CommissionConstruction Permit CPRR-124 · Docket 50-610
Related companies
Sources
- NEXT Laboperator