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 UO2 Fuel SNC Vogtle: + High Density Fuel (Framatome) + High Burnup LUA, Coated Cladding

+ + High Burnup LUA Constellation Byron: Enhanced UO2, LEU+,

+ + Coated Cladding (Westinghouse)

+ + + 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 2027 2028

©2022 Nuclear Energy Institute 4

Industry ATF Test Sample Shipment Plans Quarter Shipped Q4 2020 Reactor Site SNC Hatch Vendor GNF Shipping Container GE 2000 Lab Destination ORNL ATF Materials ARMOR / IronClad Constellation IronClad Q1 2024 GNF NAC-LWT ORNL Clinton Zircaloy-2 Constellation ADOPT/Coated Cladding Q2 2021 Westinghouse NAC-LWT ORNL Byron High Burnup AXIOM and Zirlo Constellation ADOPT/Coated Cladding Q4 2023 Westinghouse NAC-LWT ORNL Byron High Burnup AXIOM and Zirlo Constellation High Burnup Q4 2025 Westinghouse NAC-LWT INL / ORNL Byron ADOPT/Coated Cladding High Burnup ADOPT/Coated Q4 2028 SNC Vogtle Westinghouse NAC-LWT INL / ORNL Cladding/LEU+

Xcel Energy TBD Framatome TBD PNNL Coated Cladding Monticello Xcel Energy TBD Framatome TBD PNNL Coated Cladding Monticello Constellation 2026 GNF NAC-LWT ORNL IronClad Clinton Constellation Zircaloy-2 2026 GNF NAC ORNL Limerick High Burnup Constellation NAC-LWT Coated Cladding (EOL)

TBD Framatome INL / PNNL Calvert Cliffs Cr-Enhanced Pellets Xcel Energy ©2023 Nuclear Energy(EOL)

Institute 5 TBD Framatome TBD PNNL Coated Cladding Monticello

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