Collaboration Examines the Development, Demonstration and Field Testing of an Industrial Scale Steam Compressor Using NuScale Power Modules™
Partnership to be Highlighted at upcoming World Petrochemical Conference in Houston, TX
NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE: SMR) (NuScale), the industry-leading provider of proprietary and innovative advanced small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear technology, and Ebara Elliott Energy (EEE), a global leading producer of advanced turbomachinery solutions, announced a collaborative research program to demonstrate and field test a commercial scale high-temperature steam compressor to integrate NuScale Power Modules™(NPM) with petrochemical plants needing process heat.
EEE’s compressors, turbines and pumps are based on proven technology, relying on more than 100 years of operational experience and thousands of units operating around the globe in chemical facilities 24/7. NuScale’s technology, powered by its innovative NPM, is the first and only SMR to have received U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission design approval.
Under the program, EEE and NuScale will collaborate to support the development, manufacturing, and integration of critical turbomachinery and energy-conversion systems for petrochemical plants powered by NuScale technology. The collaboration is intended to combine NuScale’s industry-leading SMR technology with EEE’s decades of expertise in steam turbines, compressors, and rotating equipment to deliver clean, proven and efficient nuclear power solutions for the petrochemical plants, a first for the industry.
NPMs are designed to produce reliable process steam for industrial applications at 500oC or higher, a temperature previously considered beyond the reach of light water reactors. Steam produced by the NPM will be isolated from outside facilities via an intermediate heat exchanger and subsequently raised to high temperature through the simple process of adiabatic compression.
“The application of NuScale’s industry-leading technology to produce high temperature process steam is an exciting use case that unlocks significant commercial opportunities for petrochemical plants, and we are proud to partner with EEE to deliver these high-performance energy solutions to customers worldwide,” said Dr. José Reyes, Chief Technology Officer of NuScale Power. “Not only does our collaboration with EEE strengthen NuScale’s robust supply chain, but their deep experience in turbomachinery and manufacturing excellence also aligns perfectly with our mission to provide safe, scalable, and carbon-free energy.”
“This partnership leverages our century of engineering excellence to accelerate the deployment of NuScale’s innovative clean energy technology,” said Ron Josefczyk, Vice President, New Apparatus, Ebara Elliott Energy. “By combining our specialized design and manufacturing capabilities with NuScale’s SMR design, we are creating a reliable, low-carbon power solution specifically optimized for the rigorous demands of the global petrochemical industry.”
The project is in progress with the compressor target completion in 2027. Currently, the partners are seeking candidates for the next phase of the project, field testing.
NuScale and Ebara Elliott Energy will gather in Houston next week to share the progress of this important collaboration at the World Petrochemical Conference, where Chief Technology Officer Dr. José Reyes will deliver a presentation titled “Reframing Nuclear Heat: From Future Concept to Commercial Reality” on March 24. NuScale and EEE will also be welcoming conference attendees to their booth in the foyer of the Marriott Marquis Houston where visitors can learn more.
