Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “licenses”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 361 records · Page 20

Safety-Related Instrumentation & Control Pilot Upgrade Initiation Phase Implementation Report

This research report (1) describes the process followed and products developed during the SR I&C Pilot Project Initial Scoping Phase, and (2) captures lessons learned. Exelon Generation and LWRS collaborated to develop a Digital Transformation Strategy as part of a larger Advanced Concept of Operations. The proposed SR I&C Pilot Upgrade provides a foundation stone for this Digital Transformation that will improve plant safety, reliability, and operational performance while lowering plant Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Initial Scoping Phase activities for this Pilot Project have been performed in accordance with industry processes that have been adapted to better support digital upgrades. These processes include IP-ENG-001, Standard Design Process (SDP) [Reference 2], NISP-EN-04, Standard Digital Engineering Process (SDEP) [Reference 3], and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Report 3002011816, Digital Engineering Guide (DEG). Completing Initial Scoping Phase Engineering and Operations, Licensing, and Project Management Activities was necessary to sufficiently bound the scope, schedule, and estimated cost of the Project to enable utility management to authorize moving into the Conceptual Design Phase. A significant finding of the Business Case Analysis (BCA) methodology developed and applied as part of this effort was that the growth rate of material costs for sustaining the operation of obsolete SR I&C equipment is accelerating. This directly contributed to the Project Economic Analysis created to justify continuing the Project. Project Initial Scoping Phase lessons learned have also been captured to assist the larger industry in understanding the Digital Transformation Strategy and SR I&C Pilot Project Initial Scoping Phase efforts. This is in keeping with the public/private partnership that has been established between the Department of Energy (DOE) and Exelon for this effort with engagement from the NRC. By addressing first-of-a-kind (FOAK) risks and capturing lessons learned, the SR I&C Pilot Upgrade Project addresses technical, regulatory, and business risks to enable subsequent implementers of similar upgrades.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

FY-20 GIF-RSWG and WGSAR Status Report

This report provides an end of year summary that reflects the progress and status of United States (U.S.) activities supporting the Global International Forum’s (GIF) Risk & Safety Working Group (RSWG) and the international regulators associated with the Working Group on the Safety of Advanced Reactors (WGSAR). This effort has commenced the development of a technology neutral, risk-informed approach for the selection of licensing basis events (LBE) and the assessment of defense in depth for Gen IV reactor technologies. These U.S. activities are being managed by Idaho National Laboratory on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

New Report Can Help Reduce Time and Cost to Advance Hydropower

With funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office, researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory examined which regulatory bottlenecks can impact the time, costs, or risks of launching new or refurbishing old hydropower projects. A new report, titled "An Examination of the Hydropower Licensing and Federal Authorization Process," can help hydropower developers navigate complex regulatory currents.

HYDRO ENERGY↗

ART Advanced Materials Overview

The ART advanced materials program focuses on the application of materials and design methods to support advanced reactors deployment in the near and mid-term. This covers materials, design, construction, licensing and operations.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE ART Graphite Program Intro Status 2023

General description of the ART Graphite Program with Status for 2023. This includes list of staff members, and brief description of behavior models, licensing & code, graphite R&D, As-Fab'd Properties, Machanism and Analysis, Irradiation. Also detail FY23 Activites, with AGC Update, Oxidation Activiteis, Baseline STatus, ASME Code Development, VIC Project Update, Molten salt studies. Slide included to highlight each employee contributions for work and papers and NEUPs.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Pilot Business Case Analysis for Digital Infrastructure

The Inflation Reduction Act Has Provided an Opening to Dramatically Change and Improve the Economics of Nuclear Power Until recently, the commercial nuclear sector has faced unprecedented financial challenges driven by low natural gas prices and subsidized renewables, in a marketplace that did not reward carbon-free baseload capacity. The industry is also plagued by labor shortages, increasingly obsolete labor-centric operating models and antiquated analog technology that threaten the viability of the long-term operations of domestic nuclear facilities. In this context, the economic survival of nuclear power plants requires an efficient and technology-centric operating model that harvests the native efficiencies of advanced technology. Such transformations have been made in many other industries – notably, oil and gas. The passage by Congress of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022 provides nuclear operators with unprecedented economic incentives to pursue these upgrades. To realize the benefits of these incentives and achieve the necessary transformations in the nuclear operating model, the nuclear industry must overcome both the continuing unease about licensing pathways and uncertainty related to implementation costs.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Panel Session 14: US NRC - Current and Emerging US NRC Regulatory Topics

This panel focused on several current and emerging US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulatory issues impacting the commercial radioactive waste arena in the US. The panelists provided different perspectives on key issues such as the revision of 10 Code of Federal Regulations Part 61 'Licensing Requirements For Land Disposal Of Radioactive Waste', the scoping study on very low-level waste, the consolidated interim storage of spent nuclear fuel and other timely regulatory topics. Panelists with presentations: Overview of NRC Low-Level Radioactive Waste Activities and Initiatives (Patricia Holahan); US Nuclear Power Plant Waste Management - US LLW Disposal Issues (Joe Weismann); Decommissioning Rule (Vern C. Rogers); What is TRU? Definition, Legislation, and Rulemaking (David Carlson); LLRW Regulatory Topics of Interest in Texas (Bobby Janecka); International Low Level Waste Management Practices (Richard McGrath)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Panel Session 57: US Nuclear Power Plant Waste Management - US LLW Disposal Issues

This panel focused on senior utility managers discussing specific disposal site issues with the disposal site operators. Representatives from each of the operating commercial disposal sites began by presenting an update of their facility, license, and waste acceptance criteria (WAC) followed by a panel discussion in response to audience questions. Panelists with presentations: Current and Emerging US NRC Regulatory Topics (Joe Weismann); WCS Update (Dan Burns); EnergySolutions Clive Facility Support for US LLW Disposal Issues (Vern C. Rogers)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Panel Session 70: Nuclear Power Plant Waste Management, LLRW Processing Issues

This panel focused on senior utility managers discussing issues with commercial LLW processors. LLW processors had an opportunity to update utilities/NPPs on new or different services or technologies being offered to assist in their radioactive waste management goals, changes to their facility license, revisions to their acceptance guidelines, and emerging compliance issues. Panelists with presentations: UniTech - 'Expanding to Reduce Costs' LLW Processor Update (Gregg Johnstone); Veolia Nuclear Solutions Federal Services - Alaron Nuclear Services (Dave Garber); EnergySolutions Tennessee Processing Facilities (Fred Schulz); Complex Waste Management Issues Services and Treatment Facilities (George M. Taylor)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Panel Session 89: Progress on Deep Repository Around the World

This panel focused on the progress of deep repository programs, worldwide. While efforts on a deep geological repository for SNF/UNF and HLW in the USA were terminated in 2010, several other repository programs continue to make considerable progress 10 and deserve to be recognized. Panelists from national, multi-national, and international repository programs and organizations reported on the status and future plans as well as the perceived reasons underlying the success and the failure of components of their respective repository program. This session provided a forum for interested parties to present, exchange, and take advantage of, as appropriate, repository progress, challenges, concepts/designs and other lessons learned around the world, including site characterization, site selection, research and development, licensing, construction, operation, and public acceptance and participation. Panelists with presentations: Switzerland's Geological Repository Program for Radioactive Waste (Tim Vietor); Update on NWMO's Progress in Implementing Canada's Plan (Sarah Hirschorn); Cigeo Project Progress and Next Milestones (Corinne Bauer)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Non-destructive Material Characterization of Radioactive Waste Packages with QUANTOM{sup R} - 20130

During the last decades, the nuclear and non-nuclear industry has produced a considerable amount of low and intermediate level radioactive wastes. In many countries, it is foreseen to dispose of these waste packages safely in a final repository under strict waste acceptance requirements (e.g. the radiological and material characterization) defined by national licensing and supervisory authorities. The material characterization of waste packages can be performed on the basis of existing documentation or, if the documentation is insufficient, on further destructive or non-destructive analysis. Non-destructive methods are to be preferred to minimize radiation exposures of operating personnel as well as costs. We offer here an innovative non-destructive technology called QUANTOM{sup R} (Quantitative Analysis of Toxic and nontoxic Materials) based on prompt and delayed gamma neutron activation analysis (P and DGNAA). This technology is able to identify, quantify and thus verify the amount of hazardous and non-hazardous substances in 200-l radioactive drums, which is required for a final disposal characterization. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

New Designed Containers for Activated ILW from NPP Decommissioning - 20208

The paper focuses on packaging of dismantled and fragmented reactor components into containers and their transport to their storage and/or disposal facility within the immediate dismantling strategy applied on decommissioning of nuclear power plant (NPP) finally shutdown after standard operation. The main purpose of the paper is to present the process of design, manufacture, testing and use of new transport and storage containers for activated intermediate level waste (ILW) from V1 NPP decommissioning at Jaslovske Bohunice site. Legislation conditions, container selection process, requirements on their design and manufacture, scope of associated licensing documentation and technical procedures applied up to their use on site are described in detail. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Update on Development of a U.S. Rail Transport Capability for Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Waste - 20466

This paper provides an overview of the progress to date, and discussion of the path forward, related to designing, fabricating and testing prototype railcars that will comply with the safety standard S-2043. This standard was developed by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) specifically for railcars used to transport High-Level Radioactive Material (HLRM). AAR defines the term HLRM to include both spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level radioactive waste (HLW). DOE is in the process of developing and testing prototype railcars that will satisfy Standard S-2043. This is a technical paper that does not take into account contractual limitations or obligations under the Standard Contract for Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and/or High-Level Radioactive Waste (Standard Contract) (10 CFR Part 961). For example, under the provisions of the Standard Contract, spent nuclear fuel in multi-assembly canisters is not an acceptable waste form, absent a mutually agreed to contract amendment. To the extent discussions or recommendations in this paper conflict with the provisions of the Standard Contract, the Standard Contract governs the obligations of the parties, and this paper in no manner supersedes, overrides, or amends the Standard Contract. This paper reflects technical work which could support future decision making by the Department of Energy (DOE or Department). No inferences should be drawn from this paper regarding future actions by DOE, which are limited both by the terms of the Standard Contract and a lack of Congressional appropriations for the Department to fulfill its obligations under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act including licensing and construction of a spent nuclear fuel repository. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Cask RT-100 Type B(U) Self-Certification for DOT 7A, Type A Nuclear Waste Transportation - 20098

The purpose of this Type A certification is to diversify the use of the RT-100 cask by allowing the end user to transport either Type A or Type B radioactive waste in accordance with the handling procedures for each waste category. The project's scope included the development of a matrix that contains all applicable requirements for a Type A package from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 49 for the Department of Transportation (DOT) with a justification for each requirement. Moreover, the scope included the writing of conditions and restrictions list for the transportation of Type A nuclear waste, the writing of a compliance statement, and the design and fabrication of a Type A placard to be permanently placed on the RT-100 cask. Type A packages are self-certified by the end user using one of three methods as permitted by 49 CFR 173.461, either by performance of tests with prototypes or samples of the specimens representing the packaging, or reference to a previous satisfactory demonstration of compliance of a sufficiently similar nature, or calculations or reasoned evaluation using reliable and conservative procedures and parameters. Since the RT-100 cask was licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) as a Type B cask, Robatel relied on the method of reference to a previous satisfactory demonstration of compliance of a sufficiently similar nature for Type A certification. This method was determined to be acceptable, since Type B packages are evaluated for more demanding transport conditions than those required for Type A packages. This paper presents Robatel's process for certifying the RT-100 cask for Type A shipments, an overview of the DOT regulations related to Type A packages, and the documents that were generated for the end user. This paper is concluded with a discussion on the advantages of having the option to transport both Type A and Type B nuclear waste, and possible future projects to further improve the operation of the cask when making Type A shipments. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

The NAC LWT for Research Reactor Spent Fuel Shipments - 20126

The NAC Legal Weight Truck (LWT) Cask is a Type B(U)F-96 transportation package originally designed for shipment of PWR and BWR spent fuel assemblies. Its versatile design provides maximum flexibility and cost-efficiency to support shipment of a wide range of spent fuel. This cask has been used for research reactor fuel shipments in over a dozen countries and counting. It has supported multiple domestic research reactor spent fuel shipments. These contents are licensed by the U.S. NRC and have been validated for use around the world. These shipments need the capability to be loaded and unloaded in a pool, in a dry facility or in a parking lot. In this paper, the analysis, design changes and operations to meet these specific content challenges will be presented. The paper provides a technical overview of the NAC LWT and identifies the design features and technology advancements making the NAC LWT readily adaptable and flexible solution for packaging research reactor spent fuel. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Feedback from International Decommissioning Planning Projects - 20269

Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Plants is an increasing reality in many countries with nuclear power. Already many years before final shutdown, planning of the decommissioning work is usually started in order to understand for example the costs, waste volume capacity and licensing work needed. In many countries it is required to have a final decommissioning plan before any decommissioning work is allowed to start. Westinghouse has been involved in international decommissioning planning for more than 30 years, where the first 20 years was mostly funding and preliminary plans due to that decommissioning was many years away. However, as many more plants are now moving into decommissioning, the focus has shifted to final decommissioning plans with budgets instead of funding plans, strategic decisions instead of choices, waste volume specifications instead of estimates and a defined approach instead of what ifs. Westinghouse has developed a methodology based on the planning and execution of many decommissioning projects in Europe, America and Asia. That international experience and understanding helps the customers to adopt a systematic planning process where strategy development is done with the end state in mind, where the goals are clearly outlined and the starting point described. The process and steps to reach the desired end state need to be clearly defined and all options/alternatives evaluated from a cost/benefit point of view. This is followed by a thorough and quantitative risk analysis in order to give solid recommendations and credible conclusions. One important feedback has been that real decommissioning experience from reference projects is invaluable for an efficient and timely progress in order not to spend unnecessary time and effort on understanding the barriers and links between different activities in decommissioning. Skilled project managers or engineers can drive the project forward, but without decommissioning experience previously gained, valuable lessons learned are not used and the same mistakes can be made again. Many utilities have invested in knowledge transfer from other decommissioning projects through site visits, exchange programs and supplier meetings, which is a valuable asset and way of implementing lessons learned from performed decommissioning projects into the planning process. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Nuclear Power Plant Colocation with Data Centers

This presentation is an overview of the nuclear siting and licensing process, including specific considerations and challenges for nuclear power plant colocation with data centers.

22 - GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗