Cambridge Vacuum Engineering role in US nuclear energy project

24 Jul, 2025
Newsdesk
A test unit small modular reactor (SMR) vessel, fabricated in partnership with the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and Cambridge Vacuum Engineering (CVE), in Waterbeach, has been successfully installed by the US-based nuclear energy company, Kairos Power, at its campus in Tennessee.
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Photograph courtesy – Cambridge Vacuum Engineering.

The 14-foot-high reactor vessel is the central component in Kairos Power’s non-nuclear reactor mockup, and its installation marks a significant milestone for the US-based company in the construction of its third Engineering Test Unit (ETU 3.0).

Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Kairos Power is using its Engineering Test Unit programme to validate a safe, cost-effective pathway for the future deployment of advanced nuclear reactors in the United States.

Leveraging industry and academic partnerships, Kairos is piloting the use of innovative engineering techniques and construction processes that can help lower costs and accelerate production timelines for a future commercial fleet of SMRs that will support the clean energy transition in the US.

The University of Sheffield AMRC brought its unique expertise and capability to the ETU project, integrating various advanced manufacturing technologies under one roof – including CVE’s advanced welding technology. The AMRC’s capability to manage machining, welding and inspection in a single location allowed for the fabrication of a complete vessel rather than individual parts, proactively addressing potential future issues.

The ETU 3.0 reactor vessel was fabricated using a cutting-edge electron beam welding technology from CVE, which produces high-quality welds at least an order of magnitude faster than conventional arc welding. For example, welds that previously took one week during the fabrication of the ETU 2.0 vessel were completed in approximately ten minutes for ETU 3.0.

Bob Nicolson, CVE managing director, said: “Our collaboration with Kairos Power and the team at AMRC underscores the transformative potential of electron beam welding in advanced manufacturing. The technology scales well to the precise and demanding requirements of nuclear construction, and this partnership represents a significant step forward in SMR commercialisation.”

Beyond its manufacturing innovations, the ETU 3.0 facility will serve as a vital proving ground to refine civil construction methods and quality assurance procedures for the Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor, and will ultimately support the Hermes reactor as an operator training centre and test platform for remote handling and maintenance equipment.