US-based Global Laser Enrichment, jointly owned by Australia’s Silex Systems (51%) and Canada’s Cameco (49%), has begun TRL-6 demonstration testing at its Test Loop facility in Wilmington, North Carolina. The testing programme is intended to demonstrate large-scale enrichment performance under operationally relevant conditions.
TRL-6 is the sixth of nine internationally recognised technology readiness levels used to assess the maturity of a technology. TRL-6 confirms large-scale system performance under relevant conditions (pilot-scale demonstration).
“This milestone brings us closer to realising the full commercial potential of the SILEX enrichment process and is a major advancement in the technology’s readiness, said GLE CEO Stephen Long.
GLE is the exclusive licensee of the Silex technology for uranium enrichment. Silex Systems, based at the Australia Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation (ANSTO) in Lucas Heights, Sydney, is developing laser separation of chemical isotopes with the aim of commercialising the technology. The technology commercialisation project is being conducted at GLE’s Wilmington facility and at Silex’s Sydney facility. Construction of full-scale laser and separator equipment was deployed at GLE’s Test Loop facility in Wilmington, with the aim of completing a commercial-scale pilot demonstration (TRL-6) of the SILEX technology by mid-2024.
“Following an extensive shakedown and preliminary testing period, our team has implemented several engineering and operational modifications in the Test Loop facility to enhance overall performance. We are now focused on iteratively testing and optimising enrichment, undertaking any further modifications that may be needed, and accumulating data from the enrichment tests to satisfy the requirements for TRL-6 validation,” said Long.
He added: “Concurrently, GLE plans to leverage the lessons learned from these enrichment test runs to significantly progress the scaling and manufacturing of our full-scale plant systems and equipment.”
All test activities and results of enrichment tests are subject to assessment by an independent engineering contractor, which has been engaged by GLE on behalf of Silex and Cameco Corporation.
“GLE’s exclusive access to the [US] Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) high-assay depleted uranium tails creates the potential for a domestic, single-site solution for new uranium, conversion, and enrichment production at the planned Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility (PLEF),” said GLE President & CCO James Dobchuk. “GLE is fortunate to be able to support our utility allies with domestic supply diversity free from geopolitical and transportation risks. GLE offers an American built solution that, subject to successful deployment, will bolster the diversity of fuel suppliers and technologies in the marketplace and advance energy security for the US and like-minded allies.”
GLE’s commercialisation efforts are backed by over $550m in engineering, design, manufacturing and licensing investments, primarily in North Carolina and Kentucky. With over 13,000 hours of operation, the Test Loop facility is the world’s only uranium enrichment facility that is not government-owned or substantially government funded, including those operating enrichment facilities in the US. GLE expects to generate hundreds of kilograms of enriched uranium during the TRL-6 demonstration period.
GLE said it continues to de-risk and advance the technology’s maturation for potential commercial deployment in Paducah, Kentucky, through partnerships with utilities, DOE, and the States of North Carolina and Kentucky. GLE has the only third generation enrichment technology previously licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and aims to submit the safety report for licensing the PLEF this summer.
