NEXT Lab receives more than 2 tons of salt for next-generation nuclear reactor

ABILENE, Texas — More than two tons of specialized salt from the U.S. Department of Energy was delivered to Abilene Christian University’s Next Lab, marking a major milestone in the development of its molten salt research reactor.

More than two tons of specialized salt from the U.S. Department of Energy was delivered to Abilene Christian University’s Next Lab (KTXS/Briannagh Dennehy).

The isotopically enriched lithium salt traveled from Oak Ridge National Laboratory through Idaho National Laboratory before arriving in Abilene.

“We’ve had a major milestone on our mission at Next Lab,” Dr. Rusty Towell, director of ACU’s Next Lab, said. “That milestone was the receipt of the salt that we asked for seven years ago from the Department of Energy.”

Towell explained that the salt will eventually circulate through the reactor to move heat from the core to the heat exchanger.

“The technology that we’re working on is molten salt reactors,” Towell said. “We’re working on advanced reactors that use salt in liquid form as a coolant in place of water.”

ACU is developing the technology in partnership with Natura Resources (KTXS/Briannagh Dennehy).

ACU is developing the technology in partnership with Natura Resources, a company that is working to commercialize the technology.

“This is a research reactor. It’s not going to power Abilene or anything like that. We’re going to develop the technology and prove that it’s safe,” he said. “We will then collect the data so that Natura Resources can take it and build a commercial-sized reactor.”

According to Towell, ACU has a construction permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and is targeting 2028 for the reactor to begin operations.

More than 300 students have worked on the Next Lab project since its inception (KTXS/Briannagh Dennehy).

More than 300 students have worked on the Next Lab project since its inception. If completed as planned, the project would make ACU the first university in more than 30 years to operate a new research reactor.