Abstract
Idaho National Laboratory and the National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) constructed the Microreactor Agile Non-nuclear Experimental Test bed (MAGNET) to reduce uncertainty and risk for microreactor developers, users, and regulators. Additional capabilities, dubbed the Helium Component Test Facility (He-CTF) were added after construction was finished to provide a heat exchanger testing capability. The He-CTF construction was funded by the NRIC. MAGNET will generate validation data for dynamic modeling and scaling, thus enabling demonstration and validation of microreactor systems, components, and auxiliary systems. MAGNET was designed primarily for steady-state and normal startup, shutdown, and ramp transients around typical air-Brayton-cycle parameters of 650°C and 22 bar at a differential temperature of 290°C across the reactor. Some accident conditions, such as heat pipe failures, were envisioned. The facility has a capacity of 250 kW and can use nitrogen (N2) or helium (He), with maximum mass flow rates of 938 g/s for N2 and 70 g/s for He.