ML23346A002

Lwrs Newsletter July 2023

ML23346A002
Person / Time
Issue date:	07/31/2023
From:	Gascot-Lozada R NRC/RES/DE/RGDB
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Download: ML23346A002 (1)

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The 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 This report provides an overview of the DOE LWRS Program and summarizes recent accomplishments that support the continued operation of the domestic fleet of operating nuclear power reactors.

Main Goal: enable plant efficiency improvements through a strategy for long-term modernization Latest Report :

Demonstration and Evaluation of the Human-Technology Integration Guidance for Plant Modernization-This report documents the demonstration of the recently developed human and technology integration methodology, as applied to developing a new vision and concept of operations for a major U.S. nuclear power plant fleet. This report focuses on the methodological aspects of developing a vision and concept of operations.

Regulatory Considerations regarding the Use of Computer Vision Machine Learning (CVML) in Safety-Related or Risk Significant Appli-cations in NPP-This report explores two CVML use cases, gauge reading and fire watch, considered relevant to the regulatory framework, as they could play a safety-critical role and require a license amendment request (LAR). (File in the Box Link)

July 2023 Plant Modernization Pathway Program Mission LWRS - Overview and Accomplishments 2022

Main Goal: develop safety analysis methods and tools to optimize the safety, reliability, and economics of nuclear power plants Latest Report:

Simplified Cost-Benefit Analysis of Subsequent License Renewal - This report identifies areas where the cost, time, and resource efforts may be reduced in the process of a subsequent license renewal. Also includes, an analytical evaluation, model changes, inspections techniques changes, and a review of the past inspections results.

Main Goal: develop technologies and technical bases to optimize physical security Latest Report:

Plant Specific Model and Data Analysis using Dynamic Security Modeling and Simulation -This document provides an update on the progress in applying a dynamic computational framework that links results from a commercially available force-on-force simulation tool, a commercially available thermal-hydraulic tool, and EMRALD to an operating commercial nuclear power plant Risk Informed System Analysis (RISA) Pathway Page 2 Materials Research Pathway Main Goal: understand and predict long-term behavior of materials in nuclear power plants Latest Report:

Preparation for Stress Corrosion Crack Initiation Testing of Austenitic Stainless in PWR Primary Water - This report reviews available field experience and laboratory studies on stress corrosion cracking initiation of austenitic stainless steal in normal PWR primary water environments. Knowledge and technical gaps are identified, and a near-term action plan is proposed.

Physical Security Pathway Schematic layout for the elbow test loop with 15 test sections at naval nuclear laboratory.

Flexible Plant Operation & Generation (FPOG) Pathway Page 3 Past Issues Prepared by: Ramón L. Gascot (RES/DE/RGPMB)

LWRS August Calendar RISA Monthly Call

• Automation of unavailability data processing August 8, 2023 1:00-2:00 pm*

• CARBON Meeting-August 9, 2023*

• H3RG Meeting-August 17, 2023*

Main Goal: enable diversification and increase revenue of light water reactors to produce non-electrical products Report on the Creation and Progress of the Hydrogen Regulatory Research and Review Group (H3RG) -

This report evaluates and explains subsequent regulatory research findings with specific emphasis on the likely degree to which the simplified 10 CFR 50.59 utility self-approval process may be used. These regulatory research

& development -based conclusions are provided in the form of a generic 10 CFR 50.59

• If you are interested in participate in that meeting please contact Ramón L. Gascot or Jeff Smith Early 2020s-small kW-Scale HTE configuration BOX Link-The LWRS Program has created a box folder for all technical exchanges that are not publicly available or published yet (link in the box logo). Information in the folder should not be distributed outside the agency and is subject to FOIA.