ML23189A007
| ML23189A007 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Hermes File:Kairos Power icon.png |
| Issue date: | 07/11/2023 |
| From: | Michael Orenak NRC/NRR/DANU/UAL1 |
| To: | Proffitt J NRC/NRR/DANU/UAL1 |
| References | |
| EPID L-2018-LRM-0071 | |
| Download: ML23189A007 (6) | |
Text
July 11, 2023 MEMORANDUM TO:
Joseph A. Proffitt, Acting Chief Advanced Reactor Licensing Branch 1 Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM:
Michael Orenak, Project Manager /RA/
Advanced Reactor Licensing Branch 1 Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF THE JUNE 28, 2023, OBSERVATION MEETING BETWEEN THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STAFF AND KAIROS POWER, LLC TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE HERMES 2 CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION Meeting Information:
Applicant: Kairos Power, LLC (Kairos)
Docket/Project Nos. 05000611 and 05000612 EPID: L-2018-LRM-0071 Meeting
Title:
Kairos Power Future Plans Meeting Type: Observation Public Meeting Notice Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS):
ML23167C153 Industry Slides: ML23178A276 Meeting Attendees: See Enclosure for list of meeting attendees.
Meeting Summary:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff held a virtual observation meeting with representatives from Kairos Power. This meeting was for Kairos to provide their future plans, specifically their plans to submit a construction permit application (CPA) for the Hermes 2 test reactor facility (Hermes 2).
During the meeting, representatives of Kairos presented their slides that described the differences between the Hermes and the Hermes 2 construction permit applications.
The first discussion centered around the replacement of parts. Because planned lifetime of Hermes 2 is 11 years, components may need to be replaced. The NRC staff asked if Kairos is planning to discuss this issue in the CPA or wait until the operating license application (OLA).
Kairos responded that they intend to have the same level of discussion in the Hermes 2 CPA as provided in the Hermes CPA.
The NRC staff requested further discussion as to why Hermes 2 plans on having an intermediate heat transfer loop. Kairos responded that they took out the intermediate loop from Hermes because they were seeing reactions with the lithium fluoride/beryllium fluoride (Flibe) salt and water. The intermediate loop has a salt that is compatible with Flibe salt and water.
The NRC staff asked if the Hermes 2 CPA will be clear about Kaiross plans to sell some portion of the produced power and also clear about which Section of the Atomic Energy Act that the CPA will be requested under. Kairos responded that they are aware of the revenue requirements and do intend to meet them. The details of this issue are still being worked out by Kairos. Kairos stated that the Hermes 2 CPA will be for a test reactor.
The NRC staff made two other statements about the selling of power that Kairos should be aware of. First, there exists a law called Fixing Americas Surface Transportation Act, Title 41, signed in 2015, for Kairos to be aware of. Additionally, there is another governmental organization called the Federal Permitting Improving Steering Council that Kairos should be aware of. Kairos responded to these comments that they do not intend to become a commercial power plant and do intend to meet the revenue and testing demonstration requirements.
Regarding the PSAR Chapter 5 slide, the NRC staff asked about the sodium fluoride/beryllium fluoride (BeNaF) salt and whether there is any operating experience or compatibility testing with different materials and other salts. Kairos responded that the Flibe salt and BeNaF salt are very chemically similar and corrosion properties are expected to be very similar. The NRC staff asked if there was any non-nuclear industrial operating experience with BeNaF. Kairos responded that they werent aware of any, but they do plan on testing for compatibility with Flibe.
The NRC staff asked about the heat removal systems, specifically the heat rejector radiator (HRR) and the decay heat removal systems (DHRS) and in what situations they are used.
Kairos responded that the details of these systems will be provided in the OLA, but the plans are to have the HRR only turned on in normal shutdown, but the DHRS will not have to be turned on and will already in use before an event takes place.
The NRC staff asked why an 11-year lifetime was chosen for the Hermes 2. Kairos responded that the 11-year lifetime is from the business case for Hermes 2 (a business sensitive subject) and not related to a component lifetime.
The NRC staff asked about the control room layout for Hermes and whether they would be shared for the two units and if the controls/displays will be separated. Kairos responded that was the plan, but details have yet to be worked out.
The NRC staff asked for clarification of the 11-year operating life. Kairos responded that its planned to be 10 effective full power years and one year to account for startup testing.
The NRC staff asked if the environmental report will account for the additional land occupied by the two additional units. Kairos responded that yes, it will account for it.
The NRC staff asked about the submittal timelines for the Hermes OLA and the Hermes 2 CPA.
Kairos stated that they plan on submitting the Hermes 2 CPA in July and the Hermes OLA early 2024.
Two public questions were asked during the public comment period. The first was regarding tritium generation being underestimated in Hermes 2 given the addition of the intermediate loop with BeNaF salt. The NRC responded that this is the first time the NRC learned that BeNaF salt would be used. The BeNaF salt will be in the secondary system and additional creation of tritium in Hermes 2 is not expected. The same member of the public asked what the power generated by Hermes 2 is going to be used for. The NRC responded that this is a demonstration reactor and Kairos can sell some portion of the power generated by the facility. The NRC has no regulatory authority regarding what Kairos does with the power.
CONTACT: Michael Orenak, NRR/DANU (301) 415-3229
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF THE JUNE 6, 2023, PARTIALLY CLOSED MEETING BETWEEN THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STAFF AND KAIROS POWER, LLC TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE HERMES 2 CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION DATED: JULY 11, 2023 DISTRIBUTION:
Public RidsOgcMailCenter RidsOpaMail Resource RidsNrrDanu Resource RidsNrrDanuUal1 Resource MOrenak, NRR PSawant, NRR GOberson, NRR AProffitt, NRR DBeacon, NRR CYuan, NRR AChereskin PDoub, NMSS MHart, NRR KErwin, NMSS RBass, NRR MAudrain, NRR CSantos, NRR MHiser, NRR CdeMessieres, NRR ADAMS Accession Number: ML23189A007 NRR-052 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY OFFICE NRR/DANU/UAL1/
PM NRR/DANU/UAL1/
BC(A)
NRR/DANU/UAL1/PM NAME MOrenak AProffitt MOrenak DATE 7/8/2023 7/10/2023 7/11//2023
Enclosure List of Attendees Observation meeting between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Staff and Kairos Power, LLC regarding Kaiross Future Plans Tuesday, June 28, 2023 Name Organization Mike Orenak U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Pravin Sawant NRC Dan Beacon NRC Greg Oberson NRC Cheng Yuan NRC Andrew Proffitt NRC Alex Chereskin NRC Peyton Doub NRC Ken Erwin NRC Ryann Bass NRC Meg Audrain NRC Cayetano Santos NRC Michelle Hart NRC Matt Hiser NRC Candace de Messieres NRC Drew Peebles Kairos Power, LLC (Kairos)
Anthonie Cilliers Kairos Darrell Gardner Kairos Brian Song Kairos Kieran Dolan Kairos Nader Satvat Kairos Oded Doron Kairos Jordan Hagaman Kairos Andrew Lingenfelter Kairos David Warnica Kairos Austin Clark Kairos Martin Bryan Kairos Peter Hastings Kairos John Price Kairos Ashley Lewis Kairos Brianne Hughes Kairos Hadi Razavi Kairos Matt Warner Kairos Michael Ellett Kairos Nicolas Zweibaum Kairos Tim Drzewiecki Kairos Zayd Hussain Kairos Matthew Denman Kairos
Delaney Simmons Kairos Rachel Haigh Kairos Margaret Ellenson Kairos Adam Stein The Breakthrough Institute Charlyne Smith The Breakthrough Institute Leigh Anne Lloveras The Breakthrough Institute Michael Montecalvo Terrapower Steve Bennett RIZZO International, Inc.
Ed Lyman Union of Concerned Scientists