GENERATION IV NUCLEAR ENERGY SYSTEMS

HOW THEY GOT HERE AND WHERE THEY ARE GOING

David J. Diamond Brookhaven National Laboratory Energy Sciences and Technology Department Nuclear Energy and Infrastructure Systems Division Presented at the University of Tennessee April 30, 2003

Brookhaven Science Associates U.S. Department of Energy

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION
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Introduction to the Gen IV (long-term) Nuclear Energy Systems The Roadmap - how we got to the Gen IV concepts The Not-Gen IV Nuclear Energy Systems aka the international near-term deployment concepts What do the Gen IV concepts look like; what are some of their R&D needs

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GENERATION IV NUCLEAR ENERGY SYSTEMS

Neutron Spectrum Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor (GFR) Lead-alloy Fast Reactor (LFR) Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR) Very High Temp. Gas Reactor (VHTR) Supercritical Water Reactor (SCWR) Molten Salt Reactor (MSR)
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Fuel Cycle

Size

Applications

R&D

GENERATION IV NUCLEAR ENERGY SYSTEMS

Neutron Fuel Spectrum Cycle Fast Closed Fast Fast Thermal Closed Closed Open Size Applications R&D

Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor (GFR) Lead-alloy Fast Reactor (LFR) Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR) Very High Temp. Gas Reactor (VHTR) Supercritical Water Reactor (SCWR) Molten Salt Reactor (MSR)
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Thermal, Fast Thermal

Open, Closed Closed

GENERATION IV NUCLEAR ENERGY SYSTEMS

Neutron Fuel Spectrum Cycle Fast Closed Fast Fast Thermal Closed Closed Open Size Med Small to Large Med to Large Med Applications Electricity, Actinide Mgmt., Hydrogen Electricity, Actinide Mgmt., Hydrogen Electricity, Actinide Mgmt. Electricity, Hydrogen, Process Heat Electricity R&D Fuels, Materials, Safety Fuels, Materials compatibility Advanced Recycle Fuels, Materials, H2 production Materials, Safety

Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor (GFR) Lead-alloy Fast Reactor (LFR) Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR) Very High Temp. Gas Reactor (VHTR) Supercritical Water Reactor (SCWR) Molten Salt Reactor (MSR)
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Thermal, Fast Thermal

Open, Closed Closed

Large

Large

Electricity, Actinide Mgmt., Hydrogen

Fuel, Fuel treatment, Materials, Safety and Reliability

THE TECHNICAL ROADMAP

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Discusses the benefits, goals and challenges, and the importance of the fuel cycle Describes evaluation and selection process Introduces the six Generation IV systems chosen by the Generation IV International Forum Surveys system-specific R&D needs for all six systems Collects crosscutting R&D needs GIF countries will choose the systems they will work on Programs and projects will be founded on the R&D surveyed in the roadmap Information available at gif.inel.gov/roadmap/

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TECHNOLOGY GOALS
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Sustainability
1. Provide sustainable energy generation that meets clean air objectives and promotes long-term availability of systems and effective fuel utilization for worldwide energy production 2. Minimize and manage their nuclear waste and notably reduce the long term stewardship burden, thereby improving protection for the public health and the environment

Safety and reliability

3. Operations will excel in safety and reliability 4. Will have a very low likelihood and degree of reactor core damage 5. Will eliminate the need for offsite emergency response

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TECHNOLOGY GOALS
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Economics
6. Will have a clear life-cycle cost advantage over other energy sources 7. Will have a level of financial risk comparable to other energy projects

Proliferation resistance and physical protection

8. Will increase the assurance that they are a very unattractive and the least desirable route for diversion or theft of weapons-usable materials, and provide increased physical protection against acts of terrorism

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INTERNATIONAL NEAR-TERM DEPLOYMENT (1/2)

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Deployment by 2015 Industry involvement Improvement over current advanced LWR performance Advanced Boiling Water Reactors ABWR-II ESBWR SWR-1000 HC-BWR Modular High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors GT-MHR PBMR
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INTERNATIONAL NEAR-TERM DEPLOYMENT (2/2)

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Advanced Pressure Tube Reactor ACR-700 Advanced Pressurized Water Reactors AP-600 AP-1000 APR-1400 APWR+ EPR Integral Primary System Reactors CAREM IMR IRIS SMART

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GEN IV NUCLEAR ENERGY SYSTEMS

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Very High Temp. Gas Reactor (VHTR) Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor (GFR) Supercritical Water Reactor (SCWR) Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR) Lead-alloy Fast Reactor (LFR) Molten Salt Reactor (MSR)

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SEQUENCED DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH TEMPERATURE GAS COOLED NUCLEAR ENERGY SYSTEMS

> 950C for VHT heat process

VHTR GFR

PMR

Fast neutrons & integral fuel cycle for high sustainability

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VHTR FOR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION

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Hydrogen demand is already large and growing rapidly Heavy-oil refining consumes 5% of natural gas for hydrogen production Energy security and environmental quality motivate hydrogen as an alternative to oil as a transportation fuel Zero-emissions Distributed energy opportunity

Water is the preferred hydrogen fuel Electrolysis using off-peak power High-temperature electrolysis High-temperature thermochemical water splitting

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VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE REACTOR (VHTR)

Characteristics He coolant 1000C outlet temperature Reactor coupled to H2 production facility 600 MWth, nominally based on MHTGR Coated particle fuel, graphite block (or pebble?) core

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GT-MHR REACTOR BUILDING

35m(115ft) Reactor Cavity Cooling System

Refueling Floor

Control Rod Drive Stand Pipes Generator

Reactor Pressure Vessel Cross Vessel (Contains Hot & Cold Duct) 46m(151ft) Power Conversion System Vessel Shutdown Cooling System Piping Floors Typical 32m(105ft)

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GT-MHR
7m(23 ft) Cold leg Core Coolant Upper Plenum

Refueling Stand Pipe Control Rod Drive Assembly Control Rod Guide tubes Upper Core Restraint Structure Central Reflector Graphite Control Rods 23.7m(78ft) Cross Vessel Nipple Hot Duct Structural Element Core Inlet Flow Annular shaped Active Core Outer Side Reflector Graphite

Upper plenum hot plume mixing - LOF Core depressurized cooldown Flow between hotter/ cooler channels - LOF Lower plenum - hot jet mixing
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Upper Plenum Shroud 8.2m(27ft) Dia Vessel Flange Reactor Vessel

Core flow normal operation

Natural convection and Core Exit Hot Gasthermal radiation Plenum

Graphite Core Support Columns

Core Outlet Flow 2.2m(7ft) Hot Duct Insulation Module Metallic Core Support Structure

Insulation Layer for Metallic Core Support Plate Shutdown Cooling System Module

CORE FLOW ISSUES DURING NORMAL OPERATION

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Calculation of the coolant channel temperatures during normal operation Significant local variations in power occur across the core due the non-uniform location of the reflectors, control rods, and burnable poison assemblies and due to the fuel loading Power variations are amplified in the hot channels due to the buoyancy resistance Therefore the coolant temperatures can vary by more than + or - 200C from the average Calculation of the core lower plenum flow mixing and pressure drop Hot jet mixing, complex 3-dimensional flow around the core supports, and the flow acceleration near the hot duct need to be calculated Calculation of the hot duct coolant mixing and insulation effectiveness Permeation of the hot gas into the insulation is a concern The entrance conditions are somewhat uncertain, but the flow must be well mixed by the time it reaches the turbine
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POWER CONVERSION UNIT

Generator

Thermal-hydraulic Issues
Thrust Bearing

Mixing of the gases during bypass events Flow distributions among the recuperators and recuperator efficiency
34m(112ft)

PCS Vessel Recouperator 8.2m(27ft) Dia. Vessel Flange Turbine Cold Gas to Reactor Hot Gas from Reactor High Pressure Compressor Recouperator

Hot streaks at the turbine inlet

Low Pressure Compressor

Precooler/ Intercooler
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THERMAL-HYDRAULIC ISSUES ACCIDENT CONDITIONS

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Rejection of the heat by natural convection and thermal radiation from the reactor pressure vessel outer wall to the passive cooling system Local effects around the hot duct need to be considered Some separate effects proof testing may be needed Reliability, robustness, and effectiveness of the Reactor Cavity Cooling System Flow through the core during a loss of circulation accident Up flow in the hot channels and down flow in the cool channels results in hot plumes in the upper plenum The hot and cold channel flow distribution and the upper plenum mixing are uncertain Low Reynolds number flow with turbulent, transitional, and/or laminar flow, buoyancy effects, and gas property variations Core cool down during a LOCA Air or water ingress during a LOCA
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GAS-COOLED FAST REACTOR (GFR)

Characteristics He (or SC CO2) coolant, direct cycle energy conversion 850C outlet temperature 600 MWth /288 MWe U-TRU ceramic fuel in coated particle, dispersion, or homogeneous form Block, pebble, plate or pin core geometry Combined use of passive and active safety systems Closed fuel cycle system with full TRU recycle Direct Brayton cycle energy conversion

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ADVANTAGES OF GFR
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GFRs share the sustainability attributes of fast reactors Effective fissioning of Pu and minor actinides Ability to operate on wide range of fuel compositions (dirty fuel) Capacity for breeding excess fissile material Advantages offered by use of He coolant Ease of in-service inspection Chemical inertness Very small coolant void reactivity (<eff) Potential for very high temperature and direct cycle conversion High temperature potential opens possibilities for new applications, including hydrogen production

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GFR R&D NEEDS

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Safety case difficult with low thermal inertia and poor heat transfer properties of coolant Reliance on active and semi-passive systems for decay heat removal Passive reactivity shutdown is also targeted

High actinide-density fuels capable of withstanding high temperature and fast fluence Modified coated particle or dispersion type fuels, e.g., (U,TRU)C/SiC (U,TRU)N/TiN Fuel pins with high-temperature cladding, e.g., infiltrated kernel particle

Core structural materials for high temperature and fast-neutron fluence conditions (ceramics, composites, refractory alloys)

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FUEL / CORE CONFIGURATIONS

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GFR Metal or ceramic matrix (similar to prismatic) Pin, plate types (ceramic, metallic) Pebble/particle

Composite Ceramics Fuel Element

Core Lay-out

Core Vessel

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SCWR: GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

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LWR operating at higher pressure (>22.1 MPa) and temperature (280-550C)

Operating conditions with fossil plant experience

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Higher thermal efficiency (44% vs. 33%) No change of phase

Larger enthalpy rise in core Lower flow rate (~10% of BWR) Lower pumping power (smaller pumps) Improved Economics

Simplified direct cycle system

No recirculation Smaller reactor pressure vessel/containment

Thermal or fast spectrum possible

Fuel cycle flexibility
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SCWR: OPTIMIZATION OF LWR TECHNOLOGY

Reactor Steam-water separation system Turbine/Generator
Pressurizer Steam generator Turbine/Generator

Reactor

Recirculation system

Turbine/Generator Reactor

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SCWR: EFFECT OF SIMPLIFICATION

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SCWR NEUTRONIC DESIGN

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Considerations with core design Large change in density axially Average coolant density higher than in BWR Downward flow in water rods Other moderators (BeO, ZrH2) Square or hexagonal geometry
Fuel assembly
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consideration Rod ejection accident Negative moderator reactivity coefficient

Water rod
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BASIC DATA - HEAT TRANSFER

Single-phase heat transfer: Data exist for either simple round tubes and/or surrogate fluids. Existing SCW heattransfer database and correlations are inconsistent. Heat-transfer data at prototypical SCWR conditions (i.e., supercritical water, complex bundle geometry, high heat flux) are needed. Existing correlations and models for SCW heat transfer exhibit large discrepancies and diverging trends
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CODES - NUMERICAL INSTABILITIES

Large (albeit continuous) variation of the thermo-physical properties

may result in code execution failures.

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SODIUM-COOLED FAST REACTOR (SFR)

Characteristics Sodium coolant, 550C T out 150 to 1500 MWe Pool or loop plant configuration Intermediate heat transport system U-TRU oxide or metal-alloy fuel Hexagonal assemblies of fuel pins on triangular pitch

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SFR SAFETY R&D NEEDS

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Demonstration of passive safety design: providing assurance that the physical phenomena and related design features relied upon to achieve passive safety are adequately characterized Axial fuel expansion and radial core expansion Experimental data plus deterministic models required for accurate core representation (particularly, minor-actinide-bearing fuels) Reduce uncertainties in T-H quantities by using more detailed models - Multi-pin subassembly, full assembly-by-assembly, coupled neutronicsthermal-hydraulic calculation - Accurate duct-wall and load pad temperatures required for calculating bending moments in each subassembly to characterize core restraint and expansion - CFD tools for benchmark calculations or routine design calculations? Self-activated shutdown systems Passive decay heat removal systems CFD models useful for resolution of complex natural circulation flow paths

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SFR SAFETY R&D NEEDS (CONTD) (CONTD)

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Accommodation of extremely low probability but higher consequence accident scenarios Demonstrate that passive mechanisms exist to preclude recriticality in a damaged reactor Show that debris from fuel failure is coolable within the reactor vessel Implication for safety analysis tools Requires analytical and experimental investigations of mechanisms that will ensure passively safe response to bounding events that lead to fuel damage e.g., out-of-pile experiments involving reactor materials are recommended for metal fuels Local feedback and material motion modeling required

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LEAD-COOLED FAST REACTOR (LFR)

Characteristics Pb or Pb/Bi coolant 550C to 800C outlet temperature Fast Spectrum Multi-TRU recycle 501200 MWe 1530 year core life Options Long-life (10-30 yrs), factory-fabricated battery (50-150 MWe) for smaller grids and developing countries Modular system rated at 300-400 MWe Large monolithic plant at ~1,200 MWe Long-term, Pb option is intended for hydrogen generation outlet temperature in the 750-800oC range
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CHARACTERISTICS OF LEAD ALLOY COOLANT

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Low Neutron Absorption and Slowing Down Power Allow to open the lattice, increase coolant volume fraction absent a neutronics penalty pumping requirements also dictate open lattice Facilitates natural circulation High Boiling Temperature at Atmospheric Pressure (~1700C) Unpressurized primary (precludes loss of coolant accident initiator) Margins are available to employ passive safety based on thermo/structural feedbacks Potential to raise core outlet temperature (~800C suitable for H2 production and other process heat missions) Non-vigorous reaction with air and water Potential to simplify heat transport circuits Potential to simplify refueling approaches
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MOLTEN SALT REACTOR (MSR)

Off-gas System Primary Salt Pump NaBF4 NaF Coolant Salt 454C
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Secondary Salt Pump

Purified Salt

704C Graphite Moderator Reactor Heat Exchanger 566C

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621C

Chemical Processing Plant

LiF _ BeF2 _ Th 4 _ UF F 4 Fuel Salt 538 C

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Steam Generator

Freeze Plug TurboGenerator

Critically Safe, Passively Cooled Dump Tanks (Emergency Cooling and Shutdown)
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MOLTEN SALT REACTOR (MSR)

Characteristics Molten fluoride salt fuel 700800C outlet temperature Intermediate heat transport circuit ~1000 MWe or larger Low pressure (<0.5 MPa) Graphite core structure channels flow of actinide bearing fuel Safety analysis issues Modeling of nuclear, thermal, & physio-chemical processes (e.g., FP and MA solubility, noble metal FP plate-out, ) Lack of established analysis capabilities Regulatory framework not defined
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