VIPR
About
The VIPR (Versatile Isotope Production Reactor) is a 15 MWt pool light water reactor designed exclusively for radioisotope production; it does not produce power. It uses LEU UO₂ fuel and is optimized for high neutron flux.
| Developer | Atomic Alchemy |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin | United States |
| Size | Micro |
| Type | Pool Light Water |
Jump To:
Analysis
4
Deployment Timescale
Score Justification
The VIPR is under active review by the U.S. NRC, with the first portion of a construction permit application submitted. The pool-type architecture has extensive global precedent from research reactors around the world. The VIPR is not a modular reactor and requires the excavation of a pool to house the core.
By indicator
- 2/4 Regulatory Engagement
To what extent has the reactor developer engaged with a recognized nuclear regulatory authority in the licensing process? (30% of total score) - 4/6 Technology Precedent
Has the reactor design, or a sufficiently similar design, been certified anywhere in the world? (10% of total score) - 2/3 Modularity
What share of total reactor systems can be manufactured off-site in controlled factory environments rather than constructed on-site? (15% of total score) - 4/4 Specialization
To what extent do construction activities and components require lengthy qualification processes? (15% of total score) - 5/5 Supply Chain
How mature and available are suppliers for key reactor components and fuel services? (30% of total score)
5
Overnight Cost
Score Justification
As a small isotope production reactor, the VIPR avoids many cost drivers of large electricity-producing plants (including turbine systems, steam generators, and pressurizers), thus reducing the overnight cost of components. Because the reactor operates at low power, it does not require safety components and structures with the same level of nuclear-grade specialization as reactors designed to produce electricity.
By indicator
- 4/4 Component Cost
What is the expected cost of the reactor’s major components? (40% of total score) - 5/6 Construction Cost
To what extent does the design reduce construction cost and risk through modular fabrication and limited nuclear-grade specialization? (60% of total score)
5
Operational Cost
Score Justification
The VIPR’s limited scale minimizes staffing, decommissioning, and maintenance costs. It uses conventional LEU fuel with established waste handling assumptions.
By indicator
- 3/3 Fuel Cost
What is the estimated cost of nuclear fuel per unit of electricity generated, including enrichment, fabrication, and back-end costs? (15% of total score) - 4/4 Maintenance Cost
What is the expected annual maintenance cost for the reactor and balance of plant systems, including consumables? (25% of total score) - 5/5 Staffing Level
How many full-time personnel are required to safely operate and maintain the reactor unit? (40% of total score) - 5/5 Spent Fuel & Radioactive Waste Management Cost
What are the expected operational costs associated with managing spent fuel, including interim storage, transport, disposal, or recycling? (10% of total score) - 5/5 Decommissioning Cost
What are the total lifetime contributions required for decommissioning, regardless of funding mechanism? (10% of total score)
2
Cost Predictability
Score Justification
The VIPR is a first-of-a-kind isotope production facility without an operating prototype. Cost overruns and delays are possible with the civil works and excavation necessary to prepare a site.
By indicator
- 0/5 Prototype
To what extent has the reactor design been built, demonstrated, or commercially deployed in practice? (75% of total score) - 2/3 Modularity
What share of total reactor systems can be manufactured off-site in controlled factory environments rather than constructed on-site? (25% of total score)
4
Security
Score Justification
The VIPR uses LEU fuel and its thermal spectrum is not optimized for producing weapons-usable nuclear material. Publicly available design materials do not explicitly describe security-by-design features integrated into the facility’s layout.
By indicator
- 3/3 Fuel
What is the enrichment level and composition of the reactor fuel? (40% of total score) - 4/4 Nuclear Material Production
What is the potential for the reactor to produce weapons-usable nuclear material? (40% of total score) - 0/1 Security by Design
Has the reactor developer built in security by design? (20% of total score)
3
Safety
Score Justification
The VIPR relies on established pool-type reactor safety principles, including control rods and burnable poisons for reactivity control. The reactor operates at low primary pressure with confinement structures, rather than a high-pressure containment, and provides extended passive decay heat removal through the reactor pool.
By indicator
- 1/2 Safety Case
How mature and publicly established is the reactor’s safety case with the regulator? (40% of total score) - 1/2 Shutdown Mechanism
How diverse, independent, and passive are the reactor’s shutdown systems? (20% of total score) - 0/1 Fuel With Safety Characteristics
Does the reactor use fuel with accident tolerance or inherent safety characteristics? (10% of total score) - 2/4 Pressure & Containment
How well does the reactor’s containment strategy protect from the release of radioactive material? (10% of total score) - 3/3 Passive Heat Removal
How long can the reactor remove core heat without operator intervention? (10% of total score) - 3/4 Coolant Reactivity
How chemically reactive is the reactor coolant? (10% of total score)
5
Spent Fuel & Radioactive Waste Management
Score Justification
The VIPR uses conventional LEU UO₂ fuel with extensive licensing precedent for its spent fuel form. The VIPR’s radioisotope mission requires only small amounts of fuel, leading to low spent fuel volume. Isotope production reactors generally operate at much lower burnup rates than commercial power reactors, resulting in lower decay heat at the 50-year storage milestone.
By indicator
- 1/1 Spent Fuel Licensing Precedent
Has the spent fuel form been previously licensed for disposal? (20% of total score) - 3/4 Waste Streams
How many distinct waste streams require separate conditioning or handling pathways? (20% of total score) - 3/3 On-Site Storage
How much on-site area is required for interim spent fuel storage? (10% of total score) - 3/3 Spent Fuel Volume
What volume of spent fuel is produced per unit of electricity generated? (15% of total score) - 2/2 Decay Heat
What is the decay heat output of spent fuel at the 50-year interim storage milestone? (20% of total score) - 2/2 Time to Interim Storage
What is the average time until spent fuel can be transferred to interim storage? (15% of total score)
5
Supply Chain
Score Justification
The VIPR relies on mature commercial supply chains for LWR components and standard LEU fuel. Pool-type reactor hardware, fuel fabrication, and supporting systems are well established globally, providing availability from multiple qualified vendors.
By indicator
- 2/2 Key Component Availability
To what extent are commercial or pilot-scale suppliers available for the reactor’s major components? (60% of total score) - 4/4 Fuel Availability
Are suppliers available for both fuel fabrication and enrichment required by the reactor design? (40% of total score)