John Gaertner EPRI Technical Executive

June 2009

Long Term Operations Project

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Presentation Content

• The Long Term Operations (LTO) Objectives and Challenge

• Coordination of Beyond 60-yr License Renewal (LR) and LTO

• 2009 EPRI LTO Projects

• Candidate 2010 LTO Projects

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Long Term Operations Project Objectives

• Provide technology for continued operation of the current nuclear plants worldwide at high performance levels through 2030 and beyond.

• Includes technical basis for “Life beyond 60”

• Be responsive to societal concerns of global warming, energy security safety, cost of energy

• Collaborate with other organizations including DOE LWR Sustainability (LWRS) Program

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Long Term Operations Challenge

• LTO is necessary to achieve environmental and energy security objectives.

• The business case for LTO is favorable – benefit/cost is high and risk/cost is low – but investment will be large.

• Barriers to beyond 60-yr LR and LTO are primarily technical.

• R&D and technical basis are needed now.

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Industry Leaders are Forward-Thinking

Thought Given to Long-Term Operations Past 60 Years

4%

38%

57%

0% 15% 30% 45% 60% 75%

None

Some

A lot

Likelihood of Seeking License Renewal Past 60 Years

4%6%

0%2%

32%55%

0% 15% 30% 45% 60% 75%

Not sureDepends on the plant

Not at all likelyNot too likely

Somewhat likelyVery likely

• Survey of senior executives from 23 of the 26 U.S. nuclear operating companies

• Significant thought given to long-term operation

• Large majority believe license renewal past 60 years is likely

• Challenge is technical and need proactive, collaborative R&D approach

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Source: NEI

Capacity Factor: 90%+ Production Costs: < 2¢ / kWh

Business Case for LTO Favorable, but Investment Will Be Large

• NRC License Renewal (LR) process is established

• Technical basis for LR and LTO -- $100M?

• Capital investment in plants -- $100B?

Conclusion: risks are relatively low vs other options

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Technical basis for license renewal and life extension• Identify and quantify potential “life limiting” issues• Aging management and life-cycle management• Opportunities for modernization and uprates• Enabling technology (e.g., IT, analysis methods)

Results by 2014-2019 support decisions to operate beyond 60-yrs.Ongoing results also support plant needs for operations to 60-yrs.

Criteria for LTO Activities

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LTO Projects in 2009

EPRI 2009 LTO R&D Portfolio Developed

• 8 projects underway

• Portfolio supported by LTO Executive Task Force

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LTO Projects in 2009

Materials Aging

• Acceleration and expansion of successful TI R&D to characterize and model IGSCC

• Acceleration and expansion of R&D on IASCC in stainless steel to address fluence to 80 years

• Analysis of concrete performance in LWRs

• Evaluation of flux effects and high fluence on degradation of RPV steels (DOE effort -- no 2009 EPRI funding)

• Expansion (in duration and scope) of materials degradation technical basis information -- PMMD, MDM, and IMTs (NRC effort – no 2009 EPRI funding)

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LTO Projects in 2009

Nuclear Fuel

• Investigation of SiC fuel cladding

•Advanced LWR fuel performance models to support fuel design, testing, and operational issues

Safety Analysis

• Enhanced risk-informed safety margin analysis capability for design, operational, and licensing applications.

I&C and Information Technology (IT)

•Online monitoring, diagnostics, and prognostics for critical SSCs

•New I&C, human system interface, and information technology capabilities and architectures

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Project Update

• Continued coordination among EPRI, NEI, DOE and NRC• Issues Tracking Table (ITT)

– Identification, prioritization and management of LTO research and issues• Additional stakeholder support

– Westinghouse, FIATECH, ASME/Sloan Foundation, IBM, Shaw Group• DOE LWR Sustainability Program

– 2009 funding cut. 2010 funding uncertain.

LTO Task Force Recommendations• Supplemental funding in allocation package for 2010

• $2 million in supplemental funding needed• $5 million total funding toward LTO goals

•

2010 scope aligned with high-priority issues from ITT• LTO Project transitions into base by 2013

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Proposed 2010 R&D ( ongoing; new)

SiC Fuel and Advanced I&C projects are medium priority – will be included if DOE support is significant

Primary Issue Description R&D Description1. Integrated, phased refurbishments and up-rates

Information base to support decisions on continued operation, refurbishment, and replacement of large components, including timing, costs, and engineering options.

2. Concrete and connections aging

Concrete issues database, resolution guidelines, and pilot issue study

3. Primary system metals aging Crack growth predictions related to: environmental stress corrosion cracking of nickel alloys and stainless steel base and weld materials; and irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking of austenitic stainless steel internals and cast stainless steel.

4. Monitoring, diagnostics, and prognostics of components

On-line monitoring, diagnostics, and prognostics for active components, including a pilot application for transformers and generators.

5. Underground and balance-of- plant equipment aging

Integrated degradation monitoring and assessment for Remaining Useful Life (RUL) determinations.

6. Comprehensive database of materials aging mechanisms

Expansion of Materials Degradation Matrix and Issue Management Tables to include mechanisms acting up to and beyond 80 years for primary metals, and to include aging mechanisms beyond the primary system and beyond metals (e.g., concrete, polymers).

7. Assessment of aging issues that can be potentially life-limiting

Assessment of current data and analysis methods for reactor vessels, internals, concrete structures, cables and other critical systems that could limit remaining useful life of plants beyond 60 years.

8. Risk-informed safety margins characterization

Technology gap identification to inform development of enhanced analysis capabilities supporting critical applications.

9. Design, licensing, and operating bases

Information technology to improve efficiency and effectiveness of plant configuration management and plant processes using plant simulation, and advanced visualization.

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Key 2010 Deliverable

Refurbishment & Replacement Guide for Major Systems, Structures, and Components

• Information resource for systems and components to support decisions on aging management, refurbishment, or replacement.

• Also includes items outside of Long Term Operations R&D scope

• Addresses timing, costs, remaining life determinations, aging mitigation, and technology options

For systems and components with clear remaining-life limits:– Replacement or refurbishment would be recommended and no further R&D may be appropriate

Where continued operation and active aging management is warranted:– Research to identify degradation mechanisms, monitoring, remaining useful life determination, and

mitigation approaches

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Key Contacts

John Gaertner 704-595-2169 EPRI Technical Executive

Andy McGehee 704-595-2116 AEP, Constellation, Dominion, Duke, Entergy, FirstEnergy, FPL, Progress, SCE&G, Southern, TVA

Ron King 650-855-2647 Ameren, APS, DTE, Energy NW, Luminant, NPPD, OPPD, PG&E, PPL, PSE&G, STP, SCE, Wolf Creek, Xcel

Jean-Pierre Sursock 650-387-9628 Exelon, EDF, CANDU Owners Group

Richard Acton 44-1625-526-859 British Energy, Rolls Royce

Jose Delgado 34-6-09-146-145 UNESA

Jong Kim 650-855-2671 KHNP

Masao Mochizuki 81-3-3243-9050 Chubu, TEPCO

Acher Mosse 55-21-2512-0880 CFE, ETN

Vaclav Vyskocil 420-241-930-288 ESKOM

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