ML21145A447

Advanced Reactors GEIS Docs - X-energy Fuel and Haleu Needs

ML21145A447
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Issue date:	05/25/2021
From:	NRC
To:	NRC/NMSS/DREFS
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From: Giacinto, Joseph Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2021 2:11 PM To: AdvancedReactors-GEISDocsPEm Resource

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X-energy Fuel and HALEU Needs Attachments: X-energy-29Apr2020-Pappano.pdf

Fuel & HALEU Needs Dr. Pete Pappano, VP Fuel Production April 29, 2020

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Elements of Reactor and Fuel Programs X-energy Reactor TRISO-X Fuel Development Development

• Xe-100 Conceptual Design - TRISO-based Fuel Development Developmen

• X-battery Conceptual Design - Nuclear Criticality Safety Evaluation

• TCF CRADA - Fresh Fuel Transport Package Evaluation

• Graphite Qualification - Conceptual Layout of Production Module

• Heat Transfer Modeling CFD - Systems Engineering

• Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) - TRISO-X Facility Design

• MST Code Development (Preliminary/Final)

• NRC White Paper Development

- TRISO-X License Application

• NRC Topical Report Development Development

- NRC Interaction Key to Deployment of the Advanced Reactor and TRISO-X Fuel Business is HALEU

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TRISO Fuel Fabrication Overview HALEU Needed in Oxide Form U3O8

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TRISO-X Pilot Facility TRISO-X Pilot Facility inside ORNL, public/private partnership with X-energy engineers Ability to produce HALEU fuel elements

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Key Milestones for TRISO-X TRISO-X Press Releases X-energy Dedicates TRISO-X Fuel Fabrication Pilot Line at ORNL February 27, 2019 X-energy Invited to Submit Part II for DOE Loan Guarantee Application March 14, 2019 X-energy and Global Nuclear Fuel Announce TRISO Fuel Collaboration Congressman Chuck Fleischmann Participates in Dedication with November 6, 2019 X-energy and ORNL Leadership

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The Cross-cutting TRISO-X Fuel Fabrication Facility

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HALEU Needs and Challenges

• Need HALEU supply chain that mirrors LWR LEU supply chain 3/4Mining Conversion Enrichment Fuel Fabrication

• Transport package 3/4Production of HALEU is not enough, need NRC approved packages to move material domestically and internationally

• NCS code validation for fuel fabrication 3/4X-energy well along the way to V & V of NCS evaluations of equipment and facility layout

• Cost 3/4Having a complete supply chain in place is a must, but not sufficient to ensure deployment 3/4Costs must NOT be prohibitive 3/4On-line calculators are probably unreliable for determining HALEU $ EUP

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TRISO-X FFF Conceptual Design Complete

• X-energy will receive a Part 70 Cat II SNM license amendment from the NRC

• TRISO-X FFF:

9 Modular/Scalable design 9 Already pilot level proven 9 Lean, NCS compliant layout 9 Adaptable to multiple fuel forms.

9 Licensing activities underway 9 NCS, PHA, ISA all under NRC approved regulations 9 Designed to 5 MTU capacity to allow Xe-100 expansion and HALEU demand First US NRC CAT II Facility NU to 20% enriched U

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Design and HALEU NCS Licensing Status Over 200 design docs/drawings to date

~45 engineers dedicated to Prelim Design

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Summary

• HALEU is the key to deployment of ALL advanced reactors

• A HALEU fuel cycle must be created 3/4 Enrichment 3/4 Deconversion 3/4 Fuel fabrication 3/4 Transport

• X-energy has addressed HALEU fuel fabrication with the TRISO-X Fuel Facility

• NCS and physical security for CAT II facilties underway

• X-energy supports DOEs HALEU enrichment project in Piketon OH

• Transportation packages must be addressed

• Minimum of 4-6 MTU needed by 2023, if not sooner

• Advanced reactor design funding is useless without a supporting fuel cycle

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