ML23242A078

Hbu Workshop IV Industry Presentation: Drive to Deploy ATF with Increased Enrichment and Higher Burnup

ML23242A078
Person / Time
Site:	Nuclear Energy Institute
Issue date:	08/30/2023
From:	Csontos A Nuclear Energy Institute
To:	King D Licensing Processes Branch
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Download: ML23242A078 (1)

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DRIVE TO DEPLOY ATF WITH INCREASED ENRICHMENT AND HIGHER BURNUP

Aladar A. Csontos, Ph.D Director, Fuels

August 31, 2023

©2023 Nuclear Energy Institute Industry Strategic Aspirations

Accident Increased Burnup Tolerant Fuel Enrichment Increases

Develop and deploy fuel technologies that enhance accident tolerance and provide operational resiliency while enabling sustained economic performance through minimizing cost and improving efficiency Safely and economically enable 24-month cycle operation for the entire fleet of existing light water reactors (burnups up to ~75 GWd/MTU)

Achieve fuel licensing infrastructure to support burnup and enrichment extensions (LEU+) beyond legacy limits in the mid-2020s Commercialization and economies of scale of these advanced fuel technologies through sustainable volumes to meet the domestic and global demand

©2023 Nuclear Energy Institute 2 Key Accomplishments

NRC SECY-21 -0109 Increased Enrichment Rulemaking Plan Constellation ATF/Traditional Zr HBU LTA LAR approval Southern ATF with LEU+ LTA LAR approval Framatome Approval for LEU+ Codes and Methods Westinghouse ATF ADOPT Topical Approval Westinghouse Topical Submittal to 68 GWd/MTU Idaho Shipping Moratorium Lifted - Byron Rods NRC Commission Meeting: Overview of ATF Activities NRC CoC issued for Orano DN30-X (USA/9388/AF-96)

Publication of NEI-19-01 Rev. 1 and Futures Survey Report EPRI HBU & SFP Inventory Management Study and ALS Fee Waiver Request

©2023 Nuclear Energy Institute 3 Key U.S. ATF/LEU+/HBU Commercial Testing

SNC Hatch: + Coated Cladding (GE/GNF) + IronClad Enhanced UO 2 Fuel SNC Vogtle: + High Density Fuel (Framatome) + High Burnup LUA, Coated Cladding

+ + High Burnup LUA Constellation Byron: + + Enhanced UO 2, LEU+,

(Westinghouse) Coated Cladding

+ + + Loadings Removal A Receipt Authorization Constellation Clinton: +

(GE/GNF) +

Entergy ANO-1: +

(Framatome)

Constellation Calvert Cliffs: +

(Framatome) +

Constellation Limerick: +

(GE/GNF)

Xcel Monticello: +

(Framatome)

SNC Vogtle: A + +/-

(Westinghouse) 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 20272028

©2022 Nuclear Energy Institute 4 Industry ATF Test Sample Shipment

Quarter Shipped Reactor Site Vendor Shipping Container Lab Destination ATF Materials PlansQ4 2020 SNC Hatch GNF GE 2000 ORNL ARMOR / IronClad

Q1 2024 Constellation Clinton GNF NAC-LW T ORNL IronCladZircaloy-2

Q2 2021 Constellation Byr o n W estinghouse NAC-LW T ORNL ADOPT/Coated CladdingHigh Burnup AXIOM and Zirlo

Q4 2023 Constellation Byr o n W estinghouse NAC-LW T ORNL ADOPT/Coated CladdingHigh Burnup AXIOM and Zirlo

Q4 2025 Constellation Byr o n W estinghouse NAC-LW T INL / ORNL High BurnupADOPT/Coated Cladding

Q4 2028 SNC Vogtle W estinghouse NAC-LW T INL / ORNL High Burnup ADOPT/Coated Cladding/LEU+

TBD Xcel Energy Monticello Framatome TBD PNNL Coated Cladding

TBD Xcel Energy Monticello Framatome TBD PNNL Coated Cladding

2026 ConstellationClinton GNF NAC-LW T ORNL IronClad

2026 ConstellationLimerick GNF NAC ORNL Zircaloy-2High Burnup

TBD Constellation Calvert Cliffs Framatome NAC-LW T INL / PNNL Coated Cladding (EOL)Cr-Enhanced Pellets

TBD Xcel Energy ©2023 Nuclear Energy Institute 5 Monticello Framatome TBD PNNL Coated Cladding (EOL)

Updated ATF Benefits Report

Updated ATF Safety and Economic Benefits Report (NEI 19- 01 Revision 1)

ATF Commission Meeting: Commissioners asked questions regarding used fuel implications for ATF, LEU+, and HBU Added EPRI HBU & SFP study conclusions Added potential for expanded power uprates Added references found in literature Major conclusions from prior reports endure

©2023 Nuclear Energy Institute 6 Enabling Changes & Power Uprates

NEI surveys for planning purposes:

• NEI report published: Survey Link Key takeaways:

• ~45% of sites have interest/planning for one or more enabling changes (ATF/LEU+, Extended Fuel Cycles, Risk-Informed LOCA) with deployment generally in 2028-30

• >50% of sites have a level of interest/planning for one or more power uprates with a combined capacity equivalent to 2 large LWRs

©2023 Nuclear Energy Institute 7 Front and Back-End Considerations

LEU+ UF6 transportation anticipated by early 2025:

• NRC CoC issued for Orano DN30- X (USA/9388/AF-96) on 3/27/ 23

• DN30- X packaging consists of the DN30 protective structural packaging and the 30B-X uranium hexafluoride (UF6) cylinder

• 30B-10 cylinder (with a maximum enrichment of 10 wt.% 235U)

EPRI HBU & SFP Inventory Management Scoping Study:

• Increased burnup offset by increased cooling time and enrichments

• Spent Fuel Pool (SFP) impacts appear small and manageable, occur gradually over multiple cycles

• Total transfer and dry storage dose rates may decline

©2023 Nuclear Energy Institute 8 Regulatory Stability and Predictability

Fuel licensing infrastructure updates needed to support burnup and enrichment extensions beyond legacy limits in the mid-2020s:

• NRC Roadmap to Readiness Streamlined regulatory approaches that are timely to capture the safety, environmental, and economic benefits of LEU+ and HBU:

• EPRI Alternate Licensing Strategy Regulatory uncertainty surrounding the radiological source terms in RG 1.183 is a major hurdle for early adoption of ATF features:

• Revisions 1/2 are critical path to widespread adoption of ATF/LEU+/HBU

©2023 Nuclear Energy Institute 9