Nuclear power has a unique capacity to reliably deliver the large amounts of carbon-free electricity that countries around the world increasingly demand. Growing recognition of this has intensified interest in the industry’s capacity to scale, economically and safely. Ultra Energy began developing innovative nuclear-qualified measurement and control solutions in 1956. Our commitment to innovation continues today, as we maintain the expertise and facilities required to solve the industry’s current challenges with innovative new technologies.
A team dedicated to the future of nuclear instrumentation and control systems
Ultra Energy’s research and development function is run by a dedicated multidisciplinary team with vast expertise in delivering nuclear-qualified measurement and control systems. The team’s objective is to solve our customers’ challenges in ways that improve safety, reliability, effectiveness and sustainability. Based in Texas and the UK, the team blends a profound understanding of nuclear science with essential experience in applying materials, technology and engineering to create compelling new products and systems. Its work is rooted in the realities of meeting customer and regulatory requirements.
Mark McCray, Ultra Energy’s CTO US, says, “In a way, our goal is to bring the future of nuclear technology forward to today.”
“Our product development process is iterative. We create the concept, design it, simulate it in the computer, create a prototype and then test it. Having evaluated our test results, we’ll go back around the cycle again. Once we’re happy the design will meet our customers’ requirements, we release it under our quality system, build the final design, qualify it and launch the product.
To reduce time to market, improve product quality and reduce total cost, we’ve created what we call the ‘Accelerated Innovation Centre’ (AIC). It’s an in-house ‘maker space’ that provides our engineers with the state-of-the-art tools they need to rapidly create a prototype from a computer design, test it, evaluate and iterate.
The AIC is emblematic of our crusade to accelerate innovation in new product development, as well as drive improvements in our manufacturing processes, ensuring we make better products that we deliver on time with a compelling cost and price profile.”
Developing and launching new technologies
In seeking solutions that can be developed into products, our team explores the interaction of nuclear power plant materials and potential solution materials within the range of environments found in traditional, next generation and fusion reactors. Those environments feature a range of pressures and temperatures, as well as chemical, hydro-dynamic and radiological exposure.
The team’s work lead to Ultra Energy’s recent launch of Guardline, a modular platform enabling the rapid deployment of highly customized instrumentation and control systems, as well as a new neutron flux detector design capable of operating in the high temperatures that will be found in some next generation reactors.
The team’s current research and development projects include:
- Nuclear-qualified pressure transmitters: developing a new range of transmitters offering high performance over a wide range of operating environments and with longer maintenance and replacement cycles
- RTD temperature sensors: developing a new range of sensors that will offer high accuracy and industry leading response time to changes in temperature within high radiation environments
- Tritium detector: supporting the use of tritium fuel in fusion reactors, the detector will take rapid and precise measurements using a non-contact method, reducing safety risk in a highly challenging environment
Helping to meet the world’s reliable clean energy demand
In collaboration with international partners and customers, as well as academia and government agencies, Ultra Energy research and development team is at the forefront of nuclear innovation. Its work is focused on extending the life of existing nuclear plants, enabling them to operate safely beyond their originally specified design life, as well as developing new technologies for traditional plants, SMRs and next generation reactors, including fusion reactors. Our dedication to moving the industry forward through teamwork and ingenuity helps the world meet the clean energy demands of today and tomorrow.
Stay tuned as Ultra Energy continues to lead the charge in advancing nuclear technology, helping the world achieve a safer, more sustainable energy future.