scholarly journals Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) Needs for Light Water Reactor (LWR) Technologies A Report to the Reactor Technology Subcommittee of the Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee (NEAC) Office of Nuclear Energy U.S. Department of Energy

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn A. McCarthy ◽  
◽  
Bradley J. Adams
Keyword(s):  
Advisory Committee ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Light Water Reactor ◽  
Research Development ◽  
Light Water ◽  
Water Reactor ◽  
Reactor Technology

Defense-in-Depth Approach for Use in a Risk-Informed, Technology-Neutral Design and Licensing Framework for New Nuclear Plants

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jim Chapman ◽  
Stephen M. Hess
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Regulatory Framework ◽  
Light Water Reactor ◽  
Light Water ◽  
Water Reactor ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
Reactor Technology ◽  
Nuclear Plants ◽  
Defense In Depth ◽  
Water Reactors

The regulatory framework for the current generation of operating plants and advanced light water reactors (ALWRs) planned for near term construction has evolved over several decades to permit effective regulation of the light water reactor designs. To address other reactor types, development of a framework that possesses the attributes of being technology neutral, risk-informed and performance-based with corresponding processes (regulations and guidance) is ongoing by several U.S. and international organizations. A key design and operating principle which is applied to existing plants and will continue to be applied to future plants is defense-in-depth. The advent of advanced reactor designs, some of which are not based on light water reactor technology, provides incentive for changes in the regulatory framework in several areas, including defense-in-depth practices. To support development of an integrated framework, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) conducted research to identify and assess specific elements of possible technology neutral, risk-informed, performance based frameworks that had been proposed by others. The intent was to develop a preliminary framework based on the results of this review and evaluation and to provide recommendations in areas where additional development and testing would appear to be most beneficial. “Technical Elements of a Risk-Informed, Technology-Neutral Design and Licensing Framework for New Nuclear Plants”, EPRI Report 1016150 documents this research (Reference [1]). For defense-in-depth (D-in-D) existing viewpoints from various sources were compared and an alternative integrated approach which addresses key issues was developed. These alternative views are contained in publications such as NUREG-1860 [2], Regulatory Guide 1.174 [6], IAEA Safety Standards Series No. NS-R-1 [3], IAEA 75-INSAG-3 Revision 1 [4], INSAG-12 [4], and IAEA INSAG-10 [5]. The results of this research support the ongoing efforts to develop standards and guidance for advanced plants with safety characteristics which differ from existing and advanced LWRs.

Auxiliary Beam Stress Improved Laser Welding for Repair of Irradiated Light Water Reactor Components

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Chen ◽  
Jonathan Tatman ◽  
Zhili Feng ◽  
Roger Miller ◽  
Wei Tang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laser Welding ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
National Laboratory ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Light Water Reactor ◽  
Development Effort ◽  
Light Water ◽  
Water Reactor ◽  
Oak Ridge

Abstract The welding task focuses on development of advanced welding technologies for repair and maintenance of nuclear reactor structural components to safely and cost-effectively extend the service life of nuclear power reactors. This paper presents an integrated research and development effort by the Department of Energy Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program through the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to develop a patent-pending technology, Auxiliary Beam Stress Improved Laser Welding Technique, that proactively manages the stresses during laser repair welding of highly irradiated reactor internals without helium induced cracking (HeIC). Finite element numerical simulations and in-situ temperature and strain experimental validation have been utilized to identify candidate welding conditions to achieve significant stress compression near the weld pool during cooling. Preliminary welding experiments were performed on irradiated stainless-steel plates (Type 304L). Post-weld characterization reveals that no macroscopic HeIC was observed.

Incorporation of Fukushima Lessons Learned Into Small Modular Light Water Reactor Functional Requirements

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonard I. Loflin
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Nuclear Plant ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Light Water Reactor ◽  
Functional Requirements ◽  
Light Water ◽  
Water Reactor ◽  
Requirements Document

This paper describes the EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) project to enable the incorporation of Fukushima Lessons Learned into new Advanced Light Water Reactor (ALWR) nuclear plant designs and projects. This includes large scale plants and Small Modular Reactors (SMR). EPRI, working with the bulk of the US nuclear industry, compiled the Utility Requirements Document (URD) for new passive and evolutionary ALWRs. The ∼3,400 pages of functional design and project requirements in the URD became one of the bases documents for the current AP1000, ESBWR and EPR designs. The URD was and is a declaration of requirements of Owners/Operators for any new nuclear plant they might purchase. The 2013 revision 12 of the URD incorporated specific design and project requirements that are directly linked to industry summary conclusions and recommendations concerning the Fukushima event. During 2013 and 2014, EPRI, with assistance from the Department of Energy (DOE), is developing the URD requirements for selected SMRs.

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