NAAREA Partners with Fluid Wire Robotics for Robotic Handling of Next-Gen Nuclear Microreactors
- MM24 News Desk
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
French nuclear startup NAAREA is partnering with Italian robotics firm Fluid Wire Robotics (FWR) to develop advanced robotic systems for handling its XAMR microreactors and fuel in high-radiation environments. This collaboration aims to automate complex maintenance and dismantling tasks, enabling operations in extreme conditions including radiation doses up to 1.5 MGy and temperatures of 180 °C.
The partnership addresses a critical challenge in next-generation nuclear energy: safely managing reactor components that remain highly radioactive. NAAREA is developing a fourth-generation molten salt fast neutron microreactor capable of generating 40 MWe and 80 MWth of power while consuming long-lived radioactive waste. These microreactors are designed for installation near industrial sites but will remain under NAAREA's ownership to ensure continuous safety and maintenance.
This is where Fluid Wire Robotics' innovative technology becomes essential. The Italian startup's proprietary "Fluid Wire" hydrostatic transmission system allows for the creation of robotic arms and actuators with six degrees of freedom that contain no built-in electronics in the nuclear work zone. Instead, all motors and sensors are housed in a remote, shieldable actuation unit, making the system uniquely suited for high-radiation environments.
The capabilities this technology enables are transformative for the nuclear industry. According to the announcement from NAAREA, these robotic systems can manipulate objects with great precision while providing force feedback to operators.
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They can function in both remote operation mode for unique tasks and production mode using pre-validated repetitive sequences. This allows for inspection, maintenance, and eventually dismantling of microreactors, including operations conducted underwater in storage pools.
For NAAREA, this partnership represents a crucial step toward industrializing their nuclear technology. The collaboration will enable the automation of key fuel production processes, particularly the handling of reprocessed fuel. It will also facilitate robot-assisted dismantling operations and allow for the safe automation of laboratory and production site activities that would otherwise pose significant radiation exposure risks to human workers.
This strategic move underscores NAAREA's commitment to a vertically integrated approach where they maintain ownership and responsibility for their microreactors throughout their lifecycle. By integrating Fluid Wire Robotics' specialized systems from the beginning, NAAREA is building a foundation for safe, sustainable, and replicable deployment of their advanced nuclear technology.
The partnership marks significant progress toward creating an industrial model where robotics handle the most hazardous tasks, protecting human workers while ensuring the reliable operation of next-generation nuclear systems.