ML24306A001
| ML24306A001 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/31/2024 |
| From: | James Smith Licensing Processes Branch |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Download: ML24306A001 (1) | |
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Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) is a Department of Energy (DOE) program conducting research to develop technologies and other solutions to improve the economics and reliability, sustain the safety, and extend the operation of our nation's fleet of nuclear power plants (NPP). The NRC and the DOE has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Nuclear Innovation that allow the entities to share expertise and knowledge on advanced nuclear reactor technologies and nuclear energy innovation which extend to the area of light water reactor long-term operation and proposed modification for light water reactor sustainability.
LWRS Status Highlights October 2024 Material Research Pathway Program Mission Main Goal: understand and predict long-term behavior of materials in nuclear power plants Latest Report : First Phase Consensus Roadmap for Development of Condition-Based Cable Reliability Assurance-The objective of this work was to develop a first phase consensus roadmap for condition-based qualification (CBQ) of electrical cables. With CBQ, qualification of Class 1E electrical cables moves from a time-based approach to a condition-based approach, which is anticipated to be safer in terms of reliability and conservatism, and more cost effective in the long run. However, due to barriers, the CBQ approach has not yet been adopted by U.S. NPPs. Based upon a review of current work evaluating CBQ, the limitation of available condition monitoring technology seems to be the largest barrier. The importance of condition monitoring, or more specifically selecting appropriate condition indicators, during CBQ cannot be understated.
Configuration of typical cable designs used in NPPS
Main Goal: develop safety analysis methods and tools to optimize the safety, reliability, and economics of nuclear power plants Latest Report : Development of New Reactor Core Configura-tion for Power Uprate-Fuel Reload & Heat Processing Analyses, Core Design, System Safety Assessments, and Fuel Performance Analyses-This report aims to explore how power uprates can be achieved by boosting reactor thermal power out-put and optimizing reactor core design, while ensuring the safety and economic viability of NPPs.
Specifically, it will focus on demonstrating the tech-nical and economic feasibility of power uprates in a PWR using low 5-10% enrichment uranium (LEU+)
high burnup (HBU) fuel combined with accident tolerant fuel (ATF) concepts.
Flexible Plant Operation &
Generation (FPOG) Pathway Page 2 Main Goal: enable diversification and increase revenue of light water reactors to produce non-electrical products Latest Reports:
Hydrogen Generation and Industrial Heat Opportunities for Nuclear Plants in the Gulf Coast-This report delves into hydrogen-generation opportunities specifically from the U.S. Gulf Coast region. This study aims to assess NPP capabilities for hydrogen production and to identify practical nearby indus-trial and pipeline-operator off-takers for nuclear-integrated hydrogen production as well as to present some specific case-study analysis showing the conditions under which nuclear hydrogen production and sale can be profitable. Also considered in this report is preliminary analysis of nucle-ar-heat opportu-nities accessible near Waterford NPP via transpor-tation of hypo-thetical steam pipelines and heat-exchange equipment.
Electrical power modification for connecting hydrogen production facilities Risk Informed Safety Analysis (RISA) Pathway POLARIS reflector colorset model
Page 3 LWRS November Calendar Monthly Calls (link on the dates)
- Update on USA Advanced Remote Monitoring Projects-November 7, 2024
- LWRS Materials Research Stakeholder Meeting-November 13-15, 2024 (contact Jeff for details)
- LWRS RISA Stakeholder Meeting-November (contact Jeff for details)
- FPOG Call-November 25, 2024-10:00-11:00 AM Past Issues Prepared by: Ramón L. Gascot (RES/DE/RGPMB)
Main Goal: enable plant efficiency improvements through a strategy for long-term modernization Physical Security Pathway Main Goal: develop technologies and technical bases to optimize physical security Latest Report: No report for this issue Plant Modernization Pathway Latest Report: Scalable Methods to Automate Manual Work Man-agement Activities Using Artificial Intelligence-This effort is focused on determining ways to automate or semi-automate the process using artificial intelli-gence (AI) in its various forms, such as natural-language processing or machine learning. AI is a critical tool for automation due to its ability to handle complex and varied decisions by understanding context similarly to humans.
To identify areas where automation may be effective in improving work man-agement processes, the entire work man-agement process was mapped to specific activities.
Visual abstract of the report denoting the scope of each section