​​​​​​​​Enhanced Resilient Plant Systems

Goal

To develop methods for using risk and cost-benefit analyses that combine plant-resiliency technologies to enhance the economic, operational, and safety of light-water nuclear power reactors.
The plant-resiliency enhancement technologies considered in this project include accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) with fuel-burnup extension and increased enrichment, flexible mitigation strategies, new battery technologies and passive cooling for pressurized and boiling-water reactor designs

Outcome

Researchers will produce a set of safety analyses based on combinations of plant-resiliency enhancement technologies to demonstrate approaches to safety margin management. The increase in safety margins will provide a basis for decision-makers to determine what enhancement strategies are most beneficial in terms of safety, operational flexibility, and plant economics.

Planned Major Accomplishments

• 2022—complete safety analyses for accident-tolerant fuels with increased enrichment and extended burnup, including a discussion of the results on how plant enhancements (i.e., extended operation of steam-driven systems, flexible mitigation strategies, and portable equipment) can be used to manage plant safety.

• 2023—finalize analyses of various non-loss of power benchmark safety case scenarios with plant enhancements credited for mitigation; develop industry guidance on how to use the results of these analyses to credit plant enhancements for plant risk reduction; complete and document risk-assessment methodology for ATF with higher enrichment and extended burnup.

• 2024—complete a pilot project to provide information that may be used by the industry to support their efforts in accident-tolerant fuel licensing that includes necessary safety analyses required for ATF regulatory approval.

Related Reports

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