ML22336A108

M221208: Slides/Supporting Presentation Material - J. Wheeler - Overview of Advanced Reactor Fuel Activities

ML22336A108
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Issue date:	12/08/2022
From:	NRC/OCM
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ML22293A445	List: ML22336A105 ML22336A106 ML22336A107 ML22336A108 ML22336A109 ML22336A110 ML22336A121 ML22339A075 ML22341A208 ML22347A186 ML23025A062
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M221208
Download: ML22336A108 (9)

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• Affordable Perspectives on Fuel Fabrication for Advanced Reactors Jennifer K. Wheeler, PE, Director of Regulatory Affairs, TRISO-X December 8, 2022

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TRISO-X Fuel Fabrication Facility - Oak Ridge, TN Project Overview:

• 110-acre site

• ~500,000 sq ft nuclear fuel fabrication facility

• Seeking Category II Special Nuclear Material NRC materials license

• 16 MTU/year full capacity (>2 million pebbles/year)

• Operational by end of 2025

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TRISO-X Fuel Fabrication Facility - Licensing Status Date Licensing Activity 2/4/2022 Exemption request submitted to allow submittal of Environmental Report separately from and after the remainder of the license application 3/17/2022 NRC approved exemption request 4/5/2022 License Application submitted to NRC Chapters 1 - 13, Fundamental Nuclear Material Control Plan, Physical Security Plan, Site Emergency Plan, Integrated Safety Analysis (ISA) Summary, Decommissioning Funding Plan, Financial Qualifications 6/7/2022 Site visit by key members of NRC Environmental Review team 8/9/2022 NRC issued Request for Supplemental Information (RSI) questions ISA methods, Items Relied on for Safety (IROFS), structural design, site-specific geotechnical information 9/23/2022 Environmental Report submitted to NRC 10/13/2022 RSI responses submitted to NRC 11/4/2022 Updated ISA Summary and License Chapter 1 submitted to NRC 11/16/2022 Additional information submitted to NRC 11/18/2022 NRC accepted License Application for review with 30-month review schedule

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TRISO-X Fuel Fabrication Facility - Acceptance Review Process

• Acceptance review for application elements submitted in April took longer than TRISO-X anticipated when compared to previous licensing actions.

• National Enrichment Facility: Application submitted 12/12/2003, accepted for review 1/22/2004

• American Centrifuge Plant: Application submitted 8/23/2004, accepted for review 10/8/2004

• Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility: Application submitted 12/30/2008, accepted for review 3/12/2009

• Global Laser Enrichment Facility: Application submitted 6/26/2009, accepted for review 8/6/2009

• NMSS DFM Division Instruction LIC-FM-1, effective 12/3/2021, changed acceptance review standards from previous staff guidance in the Licensing Handbook.

• RSIs reflected detailed information requests that historically were part of the technical review / RAI process based on TRISO-X staff experience.

• The design at application submittal depicts system functional levels, whereas some RSIs requested detailed design information about IROFS components that are not identified until future design phases.

• TRISO-X provided feedback on review methods, timing, and level of detail expected in 10/13/2022 RSI response letter (ML22286A145).

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Advanced Reactor Fuels - Vary Based on Reactor Design TRISO Water-SMR Cooled Molten Salt Liquid Metal- Micro Cooled Metal Gas-Cooled Oxide Molten Salt Carbide

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Advanced Reactor Fuels - Market Demand is Growing

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Advanced Reactor Fuels - Predictable Licensing Process Effective and efficient licensing reviews

• Programmatic review of license application based on stage of design at submittal.

• In-office reviews and technical discussions to enhance NRC reviewer understanding of supporting design and safety basis information.

• Site visits to conduct horizontal and vertical slice reviews of Integrated Safety Analysis and supporting safety bases.

• Requests for Additional Information.

• Operational readiness reviews to evaluate / confirm IROFS detailed final design information and as-built conditions, procedures are complete, and operators are trained.

Risk information for inspection planning

• Plan and prioritize what needs to be inspected and why.

• Identify inspection methods, sample size, and frequency based on risk insights from the Integrated Safety Analysis

• In person observation of work in progress

• Documentation audits

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Advanced Reactor Fuels - The Future is Now

• If market demand does increase as predicted, more applications will come after TRISO-X.

• Each fuel facility may be unique due to variations in advanced reactor designs and fuel types.

• Use of lessons learned and proven techniques from past reviews will focus resources, improve predictability, and reduce uncertainty.

• At some point it may be appropriate to revisit Division of Fuel Management staffing levels and structure to ensure timely reviews of Advanced Fuel applications.

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