%20-%20carr%C3%A9.png "Vérification des capteurs de température sur le condenseur de la boucle EVEREST (SACO) © A.Aubert/CEA")
The EVEREST loop is an experimental facility designed to study and validate the passive safety of the SMR NUWARD™ modular reactor. It tests a passive system capable of cooling the reactor for several days without human intervention in the event of an incident or accident. The loop comprises a plate heat exchanger and a condenser, and is equipped with numerous sensors to measure pressure and temperature, providing data to model the system.
EVEREST reproduces the SMR NUWARD™ passive cooling system, designed to remove residual heat from the reactor in the event of a core meltdown, at full scale in height and at 1/43rd power. Connected to a 500 kW boiler, EVEREST uses four interconnected hydraulic circuits and nearly 300 sensors to simulate cooling. A 6 m³ water tank, cooled by a chiller and a unit heater, simulates the cold source.
Commissioned in December 2023, EVEREST has already demonstrated natural convection in the secondary and tertiary circuits, proving the capabilities of the passive cooling system. Tests will continue in 2024 with a commercial heat exchanger, while awaiting the mock-up of the plate steam generator. These tests will characterize the system's performance and validate the CATHARE simulations.