ML17255A004

Meeting Slides for NEI Presentation Slides for Meeting on Accident Tolerant Fuel

ML17255A004
Person / Time
Site:	Nuclear Energy Institute
Issue date:	09/07/2017
From:	Cummings K, Grobe J Exelon Corp, Nuclear Energy Institute
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Golla J, NRR/DPR, 301-415-1002
References
Download: ML17255A004 (21)

Text

Kristopher Cummings Sr. Project Manager, Fuel and Accident Tolerant Decommissioning Fuel Jack Grobe Developing an Efficient Director, Strategic Projects Exelon Approval Process September 7th, 2017 Rockville, MD

AGENDA

• NEI Committee Structure for ATF

• Regulatory Framework for Handling, Irradiation and Storage of ATF Lead Test Assemblies and Rods

• Regulatory Framework for ATF Fuel Qualification

• Conclusions and Path Forward 2

Desired Outcomes

• A mutual commitment to develop an approach that will support more timely fuel qualification and licensing for ATF

• A common understanding on use and implementation of LTR/LTA programs for ATF along with steps/schedule to formalize this understanding.

• Communication of industry proposed process for the development of an efficient and reliable pathway for ATF Fuel Qualification

• Common understanding of NRC ATF Project Plan

• Agreement to quarterly meetings between NRC ATF Steering 3 Committee and NEI ATF Fuel Licensing Task Force

EPRI ATF CAC GAAC NSIAC Research Collaboration Mission: Foster Research Accident Tolerant Fuel Working Group (ATFWG) Cooperation and Collaboration Mission: Guide Industry Policy and Actions on ATF Al Csontos, EPRI Executive Sponsor: Joe Grimes, TVA NEI Sponsoring Executive: Pamela Cowan NEI Sponsoring Director: Rod McCullum National Labs NEI Staff Lead: Andrew Mauer Universities

• Exelon Generation Company, LLC

• GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy

• Tennessee Valley Authority

• AREVA Inc. International

• Duke Energy Corporation

• Westinghouse Electric Company

• Entergy Operations, Inc.

• Lightbridge Corporation Regulators

• Southern Nuclear Operating

• General Atomics Company

• Jensen Hughes

• Dominion Generation

• Electric Power Research Institute Fuel Vendors

• Arizona Public Service Company

• Nuclear Energy Institute

• Xcel Energy Utilities ATF External Affairs Task Force ATF Fuel Licensing Task Force ATF Safety Benefits Task Force Funding and Schedule Acceleration Fuel Qualification to Deployment Realization of Regulatory Benefits Andrew Mauer/Bruce Montgomery, NEI Kris Cummings, NEI Kris Cummings, NEI Tom Craig, Duke Energy Corporation Jack Grobe, Exelon Generation Company, LLC John Williams, Southern Nuclear Operating Company 4

ATF Concepts Under Development

• DOE down selection to 3 ATF concepts for their Phase 2 program:

• Cr-coated zircaloy cladding

• Si-C composite cladding

• Fe-Cr-Al cladding

• Chromium doped UO2

• U3Si2 high density fuel

• Conventional UO2 fuel

• One design by Lightbridge under development outside DOE cost-share program.

• Metallic uranium alloy 5

ATF Path Forward 6

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR ACCIDENT TOLERANT FUEL LEAD TEST ASSEMBLIES AND RODS 7

HISTORY

• Handling, irradiation and storage of Lead Test Assemblies and Rods (LTAs) has been implemented for decades

• Technical Specification 4.2.1 permits the irradiation of LTAs in the reactor core for:

o A limited number of LTAs that have not completed representative testing o Placed in a non-limiting core regions

• LTA Programs are an authorized activity in the 8 facility license

HISTORY - Contd

• Licensees planning near-term ATF LTA programs have scheduled meetings with NRR technical staff to discuss the program:

o Southern (Hatch) meeting with NRR regarding Spring 2018 insertion of ATF LTAs with UO2 fuel and ferritic steel cladding in June 2017 o Exelon (Byron) meeting planned with NRR regarding Spring 2019 insertion of ATF LTAs with U3Si2 fuel and chromium coated zircaloy cladding in October 2017

• Several other ATF LTA programs anticipated 9

IRRADIATION OF LTAs IN THE CORE

• Engineering design control process under 10CFR50, Appendix B o Design and safety analysis supporting irradiating LTAs in the core performed under the design control process

• Confirms the safety basis for the LTAs

• Authorized activity under TS 4.2.1 o . A limited number of lead test assemblies that have not completed representative testing may be placed in non-limiting core regions.

• Purpose of irradiating LTAs in the reactor is to collect data and validate performance

• Codes and methods do not need to have been submitted to NRC 10

LTAs IN THE CORE - Contd

• All facility design changes enter the station 10CFR50.59 process o Reactor core irradiation of LTAs is an authorized activity under the operating license - TS 4.2.1 o 10 CFR 50.59 process is exited since further NRC authorization is not necessary for reactor core irradiation of LTAs 11

LTAs IN THE CORE - Contd

• 10 CFR 50.46 Acceptance Criteria for Emergency Core Cooling Systems for Light-Water Nuclear Power Reactors o Each light-water nuclear power reactor fueled with uranium oxide pellets within cylindrical zircaloy or ZIRLO cladding o This regulation establishes the ECCS criteria for cores of fuel that are comprised of uranium oxide pellets within cylindrical zircaloy or ZIRLO cladding o Therefore, an exemption to 10CFR50.46 is not necessary for fuel that is not uranium oxide pellets within cylindrical zircaloy or ZIRLO cladding 12

STORAGE OF LTAs

• Depending on facility design ATF LTAs will need to be stored in dry and/or wet storage locations before and after irradiation

• As long as the design control process concludes that ATF LTAs/LTRs are bounded by the current analysis, they may placed in the storage areas.

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HANDLING OF LTAs/ PROCEDURE CHANGES

• LTA programs may involve changes in handling equipment and/or plant procedures:

o Any necessary changes would be evaluated, reviewed and approved under the facility design change process or procedures management process o Changes in fuel handling equipment/procedures from that described in the facility Updated Safety Analysis Report would be evaluated under 10CFR50.59 to determine whether NRC review and approval of the change would be required.

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ACCIDENT TOLERANT FUEL FUEL QUALIFICATION REGULATORY FRAMEWORK 15

ATF FUEL QUALIFICATION ROADMAP 16

Key Activities - Remainder of 2017

• Alignment and stability of LTA Regulatory Framework

• Development and Alignment of Regulatory Roadmaps with NRC ATF Project Plan o ATF Fuel Qualification (10 CFR Part 50) o ATF Fabrication (10 CFR Parts 70, 73 and 74) o ATF Transportation (10 CFR Part 71)

• Identification of Areas for Rulemaking 17

Regulations

• 10 CFR 50.46 - ECCS performance criteria for non-zirconium/UO2 fuel

• 10 CFR 50.68 - 5 wt% enrichment limit for the spent fuel pool

• Appendix A (GDC 35) - language specific to fuel and clad and clad metal-water reaction

• Evaluation of regulations continuing 18

Conclusions and Path Forward

• ATF provides a significant safety advancement to the current fleet of light-water reactors

• More timely fuel qualification and licensing is needed to support approval and implementation of ATF designs by early to mid-2020s

• Near-term alignment and stability of LTA Regulatory Framework is needed.

• Continued engagement will be key to making progress 19

Questions?

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Acronyms

• ATF - Accident Tolerant Fuel

• ATR - Advanced Test Reactor

• CFR - Code of Federal Regulations

• GDC - General Design Criteria

• LTA - Lead Test Assembly

• LTR - Lead Test Rod(s)

• TREAT - Transient Reactor Test Facility 21