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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.

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DOE OSTI2018

Retooling a Trade Association in a Challenged Industry: The Nuclear Energy Institute Story - 18503

The U.S. Nuclear industry is facing significant challenges to maintain economic competitiveness in an electricity supply sector where advances in natural gas, wind, and solar technologies are reshaping the marketplace. As clean and reliable baseload generation, nuclear still has a valuable role to play. But in order for the power of the atom to remain available for meeting the nation's energy, environmental, and national security needs, it will be imperative that industry leadership innovate and become more efficient at a pace that matches the competition. Industry leaders rely, to a large extent, on their trade association - the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) - to be the prime mover in championing initiatives that will enable a successful future. NEI realized that, in the face of an increasingly difficult economic situation, it must become both leaner and more forward looking - it would have to extend its reach and influence while at the same time reigning in costs to its membership. Therefore, on January 17, 2017 NEI completed a restructuring to improve member value and organizational effectiveness. This restructuring was designed in recognition that the nuclear industry is at a pivotal time, and NEI had a unique opportunity to change its trajectory and underline the importance of nuclear energy's role in the nation's critical infrastructure. NEI is now better positioned to support the existing reactor fleet, promote commercialization of advanced reactors, and drive American leadership in commercial nuclear exports and technology around the world. NEI began this restructuring in the fall of 2016 when it consolidated Government Affairs, Communications, Policy and Public Affairs under a new External Affairs function. The January 2017 action extended that effort across the remainder of the organization, ensuring that the organization is highly aligned, member-focused and results driven. The new NEI takes pride in the fact that it is comprised of talented employees who are passionate about nuclear energy and can make a difference for our membership. With this team in place, NEI looks forward to advancing the interests of the nuclear industry while contributing to a safer, cleaner and more productive world. This paper will examine the details of how this new organization was constructed, provide an overview of the National Nuclear Energy Strategy it developed to guide its efforts, examine the trials and tribulations that come along with disruptive change, and reflect on what has been accomplished in the retooled organizations first year. (authors)

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2020

The Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute: A Multidisciplinary Educational Approach for Integrated Nuclear Energy Safety Security and Safeguards in the Middle East

The Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute (GNEII) at Khalifa University of Science and Technology was created as a regional institute offering education, research and technical services to support nuclear energy safety, security and safeguards (3S) objectives. A mixed methods approach—using the (1) Course Evaluation, (2) GNEH Alumni Survey, (3) Capstone Project and, (4) GNEII-Related Literature data sets—was used to evaluate the effect of implementing this multidisciplinary `3S' educational program and the broader impact of the associated `3S' multidisciplinary institute on nuclear energy human resource development. Data sets (1), (2) and (3) illustrate how well GNEII implemented this novel 3S curriculum and resulted in successful knowledge transfer. Data sets (2), (3) and (4) illustrate how well GNEII's impact has positively influenced professional workplace behaviors and the institute's broader reputation to support responsible nuclear energy program education. Furthermore, GNEII demonstrates one option for successfully providing a multidisciplinary, 3S curriculum to support broader nuclear infrastructure and human resource development aims.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program Plant Modernization Technical Program Plan for FY 2019

This report presents the Technical Program Plan for FY 2019 for the Department of Energy Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program – Plant Modernization research pathway. A summary of the vision and strategy is provided to explain how this program addresses key issues and barriers for modernizing instrumentation and control technologies and infrastructure in domestic nuclear power plants. The report describes the pilot projects that have been formulated to develop and validate enabling technologies over the next several years that will result in digital alternatives to the legacy analog II&C systems in place today. This will allow much needed modernization of these systems to address reliability and obsolescence problems, as well as serve as a platform for substantial operational improvement. The report further describes key project resources and cooperative relationships, including the Electric Power Research Institute, the Nuclear Energy Institute )NEI), the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), the IFE Halden Reactor Project, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and industry suppliers, that are instrumental to the success of the program. The report also lists the schedule for all program products, including the titles and report numbers for all published reports under this program.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program Plant Modernization Technical Program Plan for FY 2021

This report presents the Technical Program Plan for FY 2019 for the Department of Energy Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program – Plant Modernization research pathway. A summary of the vision and strategy is provided to explain how this program addresses key issues and barriers for modernizing instrumentation and control technologies and infrastructure in domestic nuclear power plants. The report describes the pilot projects that have been formulated to develop and validate enabling technologies over the next several years that will result in digital alternatives to the legacy analog II&C systems in place today. This will allow much needed modernization of these systems to address reliability and obsolescence problems, as well as serve as a platform for substantial operational improvement. The report further describes key project resources and cooperative relationships, including the Electric Power Research Institute, the Nuclear Energy Institute )NEI), the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), the IFE Halden Reactor Project, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and industry suppliers, that are instrumental to the success of the program. The report also lists the schedule for all program products, including the titles and report numbers for all published reports under this program.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program Plant Modernization Technical Program Plan for FY 2021

This report presents the Technical Program Plan for FY 2019 for the Department of Energy Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program – Plant Modernization research pathway. A summary of the vision and strategy is provided to explain how this program addresses key issues and barriers for modernizing instrumentation and control technologies and infrastructure in domestic nuclear power plants. The report describes the pilot projects that have been formulated to develop and validate enabling technologies over the next several years that will result in digital alternatives to the legacy analog II&C systems in place today. This will allow much needed modernization of these systems to address reliability and obsolescence problems, as well as serve as a platform for substantial operational improvement. The report further describes key project resources and cooperative relationships, including the Electric Power Research Institute, the Nuclear Energy Institute )NEI), the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), the IFE Halden Reactor Project, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and industry suppliers, that are instrumental to the success of the program. The report also lists the schedule for all program products, including the titles and report numbers for all published reports under this program.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2019

The Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute (GNEII): Origins, Objectives, and Operations—A Joint Report

The Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute (GNEII—pronounced "genie") seeks to develop expertise among future leaders of Gulf-region nuclear power programs in global standards, norms and best practices in nuclear energy programs. More specifically, the institute aims to contribute to the enhancement of nuclear security, safety, and safeguards (the so-called nuclear "3S") by providing an avenue for regional nuclear interaction, technical collaboration, lessons-learned discussions, and best-practices sharing. It is a multidisciplinary human capacity development institute offering education, research and technical services to support responsible nuclear energy programs in the Gulf and Middle East regions. In this Joint Report, Chapter 2 discusses GNEII's origins (including drivers, milestones, and design principles), Chapter 3 discusses GNEII's objectives (including goals, mission, and vision), Chapter 4 discusses GNEII's operations (including education, research, and technical service pillars), Chapter 5 discusses major insights and next steps, and Chapter 6 provides a list of publications offering additional depictions and details of GNEII's evolution. Though only one piece of a multi-faceted, multi-national effort to develop human infrastructure needs for nascent nuclear energy programs, GNEII offers a model that addresses the socio-technical attributes of nuclear 3S that can be replicated globally.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Economic Impacts of Nuclear Plants in Communities

The U.S. nuclear industry currently employs nearly 475,000 people in full-time jobs (direct and secondary). 100,000 of these are direct, career-length and skilled. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Nuclear Energy Institute, the nuclear electric power generation sector directly employs between 50,000 and 60,000 workers. Nuclear vendors and manufacturers add another 60,000 positions. Compensation is also high and in 2021, nuclear power reactor operators received a median annual pay of over $100,000. While operators are not required by Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations to have a college degree, the average nuclear engineer with a bachelor’s degree earned over $120,000. The defining characteristics of a nuclear power plant make it an economic hub because of the broad range of work roles required during construction and normal operation. This ranges from jobs in the skilled trades like electricians and pipefitters, to scientists and engineers whose backgrounds are in multiple disciplines.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2025

RIM: Reliability and Integrity Management/ASME BPVC Section XI Division 2

Prepared at the request of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and the Joint Committee on Nuclear Risk Management's SubCommittee on Risk Applications, this slide set presents an update on some recent Reliability and Integrity Management (RIM) Subgroup work to respond to industry questions on American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section XI Division 2. If approved, the briefing will be given at an upcoming workshop of the Nuclear Energy Institute (February 18-20, Washington, DC) and at an upcoming meeting of the Joint Committee on Nuclear Risk Management's SubCommittee on Risk Applications (February 25-26, College Park, MD).

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Gap Assessment on Sensors and Instrumentation for Advanced Reactors

The Sensor Technologies for Advanced Reactors Virtual Workshop—sponsored by the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN), the Electric Power Research Institute, and the Nuclear Energy Institute—was held to exchange information on sensors and sensor technologies of interest to advanced nuclear technology developers, commercial instrument suppliers, and sensor researchers from Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories, universities, and industry. The workshop objectives were to discuss measurement requirements and sensor needs for advanced reactor concepts, understand current national laboratory capabilities and accelerated development approaches for sensors and instrumentation, and identify gaps so as to inform applicable DOE Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) research programs. Due to the complexity of holding group discussions on individual gaps, a survey was sent to workshop participants, and personalized one-on-one feedback sessions were held to elicit additional information. Summaries of these sessions are provided in this gap assessment report.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2018

Licensing Modernization Project for Advanced Reactor Technologies: FY 2018 Project Status Report

The promise of new nuclear technology and the future of commercial power in the United States (U.S.) are linked to the existence of an efficient and safety-focused regulatory review and licensing process. With an appropriate regulatory framework, reactor suppliers and regulators can design, license, build, and export advanced reactor units more effectively and efficiently and thereby help meet the growing need for clean and reliable energy. To help address the challenge of maintaining compatibility between the regulatory environment and new commercial nuclear plant designs, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is supporting an industry-led effort called the Licensing Modernization Project (LMP). This cost-shared initiative, started in 2016 and scheduled to continue through mid-2019, targets amendment to key elements of the U.S. nuclear power reactor regulatory framework to specifically address licensing barriers in advanced-reactor concepts. The project is focused on updating guidance for certain technical licensing requirements that are largely incompatible with non-light-water reactors (non-LWR) and establish a new pathway for design-safety evaluations and license-application development. Upon completion, the project will have created a new pathway, founded on modern probabilistic assessment techniques, that offers developers, suppliers, regulators, and owner/operatorowner-operators greater clarity and assurance in design and licensing decisions. The LMP employs a team of advanced reactor technology and licensing subject matter experts working closely with U.S. regulators, affected industries, and interested members of the public. The project is managed by Southern Company and supported through a cost share arrangement with DOE. Technical contributions are also provided to the project from the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Regulatory Development area, the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The LMP identified a suite of high priority issues that provided significant uncertainty within the regulated non-LWR community. It was determined that much of this uncertainty could be retired by issuing updated licensing guidance founded on safety performance demonstrations and modern probabilistic methodologies. The success criteria for the project were established as: • Generate sets of technology inclusive (TI), risk-informed, and performance-based (TI-RIPB) technical requirements, recommendations, and proposals that could be reviewed, amended, and adopted for use by both NRC staff and industry. The proposals would create an optional-use regulatory framework without imposing additional (i.e., mandatory) requirements. • Support LMP the recommended updates of LMP such that they can be finalized, endorsed by NRC, and used by applicants within 5 years. This also supports the DOE advanced- reactor development and deployment goal of completing licensing reviews for technically mature non-LWR concepts sufficient to allow construction to proceed by the early 2030’s. • Further overall programmatic objectives established by DOE’s Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) initiative by resolving technology-inclusive policy issues that adversely impact regulatory reviews, siting, permitting, and/or licensing of non-LWRs. This would provide significantly more regulatory certainty for advanced reactor developers.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Modernization of Technical Requirements for Licensing of Advanced Non-Light Water Reactors: Risk-Informed and Performance-Based Evaluation of Defense-in-Depth Adequacy

This document supports the work contained in Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) 18-04 “Risk-Informed Performance-Based Technology Inclusive Guidance for Advanced Reactor Licensing Basis Development” Revision 0. NEI 18-04 presents a modern, technology-inclusive, risk-informed, and performance-based (TI-RIPB) process for selection of Licensing Basis Events (LBEs); safety classification of structures, systems, and components (SSCs) and associated risk-informed special treatments; and determination of defense-in-depth (DID) adequacy for non-LWRs. The NEI guidance document provides one acceptable means for addressing the aforementioned topics as part of demonstrating a specific design provides reasonable assurance of adequate radiological protection. This report provides the framework and associated methodology guidelines and discussion for establishing, then evaluating, confirming, and documenting the adequacy of defense-in-depth (DID) for advanced non-light-water reactor technologies. It was developed as part of the Licensing Modernization Project led by Southern Company and cost-shared by the United States Department of Energy and has benefited from considerable NRC formal reviews and public workshops. The methodology converts the DID philosophy into a structured process that is implementable, embraces existing United States and international definitions and philosophies of DID that set the foundation for the process. It builds on the DID framework developed in the Department of Energy Next Generation Nuclear Plant Project and earlier works on this subject. The approach to establishing DID adequacy involves the incorporation of DID attributes into the plant capabilities and programmatic elements of DID. The integrated evaluation of DID adequacy includes both quantitative elements to incorporate risk-informed and performance-based (RIPB) considerations and qualitative elements that address uncertainties and limitations in the quantitative models and supporting data. Demonstration of DID adequacy ensures that there are multiple layers of defense for risk-significant challenges to the design and that the plant capabilities and programs that support each layer are provided in a manner that minimizes dependencies among these layers. The focus of this report is assurance of DID adequacy with respect to protection of the public from radiological exposures resulting from accidental releases of radioactive material. While other hazards are not specifically addressed, this methodology is expected to be beneficial for determining DID adequacy for them as well. Risk-informed evaluation of DID considers the integrated performance of all plant SSCs and associated programs to manage daily operational activities, transients, and accidents, including the evaluation of strategies for accident prevention and mitigation. The RIPB LBE scenario methodology used in this evaluation defines the challenges to the plant safety features included in the plant design basis and beyond, and the scope of all deterministic and probabilistic safety evaluations. By examining event sequences across the whole spectrum of LBEs, a systematic assessment of DID can be accomplished.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2018

Final CRADA Report for Enhanced and Miniaturized Wireless Valve Position Indicator Prototype

Most operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the United States have received approval to extend their operating licenses to 60 years. Now the nuclear industry is preparing to extend operating licenses to 80 years. While NPPs are preparing for extensions (60 years and beyond), the nuclear industry is facing a unique economic sustainability challenge in the current energy market. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), generating costs of U.S. reactors have risen by 28% over the last 12 years, which is impacting the competitiveness of nuclear power in a market being increasingly penetrated by natural gas and renewable energy. This is partly because of the fact that the present nuclear work practice is dependent on a large technical staff which results in high operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, accounting for approximately 66% of the total operating cost. To address these concerns and abide by the NEI’s “Delivering the Nuclear Promise Initiative,” the U.S. utilities are embracing digitalization of their work practice to lower the O&M costs and increase productivity and efficiency while maintaining a safe and reliable operation. To address these above-mentioned concerns, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) researchers (proposal team) have developed a wireless valve position indication (VPI) sensor system that can be retrofitted on three main manual valve types (extendible to other manual valve types) to replace manual valve position verification with digital verification and enable online monitoring of manual valves. The developed technology 1) is evaluated for electromagnetic interference, 2) has a low power consuming and miniaturized electronic board, 3) is mounted on adjustable and reconfigurable sensor mounting unit that can fit on an actual flow-loop (at Idaho State University-ISU) to enable online monitoring of manual valve types without any valve body modification, and 4) ensures robust, secure, and reliable real-time communication of manual valve position.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2018

Plant Modernization Pathway: FY 2019 External Review Summary Report

This report describes an external review conducted by the Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program Plant Modernization Pathway (referred to as Pathway) to solicit feedback on the topics and results of the ongoing Instrumentation and Control (I&C) research program. This review was held in conjunction with the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Digital I&C Working Group meeting that was held at Idaho National Laboratory on October 16–17, 2018. Members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff working on digital I&C issues through their Integrated Action Plan also attended. The NEI and NRC agreed that the meeting participants would serve as an external review panel for the purpose of obtaining expert input on the value and timing of the research projects. Five major research areas were presented, along with demonstrations of new technologies in the Human Systems Simulation Laboratory and the Computer-Assisted Virtual Environment. Following the presentations, the external review was conducted by referring to a set of summary slides of the five research areas, and allowing each participant to enter ratings and comments on a survey form as each area was addressed. Fourteen forms were returned. These feedback forms were analyzed by the Pathway who compiled and responded to the data and comments, which are documented in this report. The participants also had opportunity to provide comments on the LWRS Program as a whole and to suggest additional research topics of value. The feedback provided by the external review participants is taken to be a strong endorsement of the types of projects being conducted by the Pathway, the value they hold for the operating nuclear plants, and the general timing of need. The feedback aligns well with the priorities, levels of efforts allocated for the research projects, and project schedules of the current Pathway research program. The feedback also provides realistic observations on the practicality of some aspects of implementing these technologies. The Pathway will consider all of the feedback and address the recommended research topics that have been identified by the external review participants. Pathway research plans will be adjusted as warranted.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2019

ANS Summary of Safety Design Strategy for the Versatile Test Reactor

This paper describes the unique challenges with developing and documenting the Safety Design Strategy for the Versatile Test Reactor in the following key areas: 1. Identification of the key safety goals in the VTR facility design and operation that are to ensure adequate protection of the public, workers, and environment as required by 10 CFR 830, “Nuclear Safety Management.” These goals are fulfilled by an approach that applies defense-in-depth (DID) by applying various layers (or levels) of protection to prevent the release of radioactive and hazardous materials. 2. Early identification of the hazards that are normally associated with a large fast reactor facility can result from postulated failure conditions in one or more of the reactor systems or from operational errors. 3. Identification of the key decisions that must be made during the initial project life cycle that will affect the eventual design and construction of the VTR and enable clarity in safety expectations. 4. Identification of the applicable regulatory framework requirements for demonstrating compliance with safety basis requirements in 10 CFR 830 Subpart B for the VTR. 5. Application of the proposed Licensing Modernization Program (LMP) recommendations for advanced non-LWR reactors as outlined in Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)-18-04, “Risk-Informed Performance-Based Guidance for Non-Light Water Reactor Licensing Basis Development.”

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗