‘Operate’ a new style of nuclear plant at AMSE
Quinn Argall, exhibits and collections director, shows off an exhibit on which he worked at the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge. It gives visitors a taste of how the proposed Hermes nuclear reactor might work. (photo:Ben Pounds )
They can put their gloved hands in a transparent box to pick up a small sphere, like the tri-structural isotropic fuel pebbles that the new reactor will be the first to use. Then, they can place the pebble so that it will come down on a pebble extraction machine screw like the one the future test plant will use.
“There’s just something joyous about watching those things,” AMSE Director of Exhibits and Collections Quinn Argall said.
The future Hermes reactor built by the company Kairos will test a new style of reactor using fuel pebbles rather than just fuel rods on Oak Ridge’s Roane County side. Meanwhile, AMSE, on the county’s Anderson County side, developed a temporary exhibit in collaboration with Kairos.
It allows people to learn about the future test reactor and its features through activities, displays and touch screens. The museum is at 115 Main St. E.
AMSE plans to keep the exhibit through June.
Argall said he has different goals for different audiences with the exhibit.
“For adults, we definitely want them to understand how the future of nuclear looks and how it can be safe and efficient and help them with their lives,” he said. “The future of energy production will rely on nuclear technology.”
He said he also wanted to get children interested in science and technology careers, specifically nuclear physics.
“Instead of just saying, ‘I want to be an astronaut or a dinosaur wrangler,’ they might say ‘I want to be a nuclear physicist,’” Argall said. He said his own two children, who are 9 and 11, helped him build the exhibit.
Kairos also helped, Argall said. Even though Kairos is a private company, the focus of his discussions with the firm was on science and education, not business.
“I’m not talking to a lot of businesspeople; I’m talking to scientists who are really excited about what the future holds,” he said regarding his contacts at Kairos.
The technologies involved have ties to research in Oak Ridge.
“Not only are they cute, but they also make for a safer and more efficient method,” he said of the fuel pebbles.