| This report presents a plant system integration feasibility assessment performed to establish constraints and limitations to establish a target for thermal energy that can reasonably be extracted from the secondary system of a generic pressurized water reactor (PWR) without major secondary system redesign and modification, and without impact to the primary function of the electric generator. | Evaluation of the Technical Feasibility, Plant Physical Modification, and Digital Controls Modifications required for 50% and 70% Thermal Energy Extraction from a Pressurized Water Reactor, INL/RPT-24-77436 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 4/9/2024 | Thermal Energy Dispatch | 4/10/2024 11:15 AM | Thermal Energy Dispatch |
| One of the focuses of the Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program is to explore the diversification of light-water reactor (LWR) revenue streams through the Flexible Plant Operation and Generation Pathway. Direct steam utilization is one potential method of alternative revenue. Nuclear plant steam applications include hydrogen generation, desalination, district heating, thermal storage, and industrial processes. Steam utilization can help increase nuclear plant efficiencies and economics while providing a low-carbon solution for thermal power users. This report assesses the impacts of high levels of thermal power extraction on a generic nuclear plant design to determine feasible extraction limits for nuclear plant steam. | Preconceptual Designs of 50% and 70% Thermal Power Extraction Systems, INL/RPT- 24-77206 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 3/27/2024 | | 4/17/2024 11:16 AM | |
| This report summarizes key impacts of 30%, 50%, and 70% thermal power extraction on a generic Westinghouse 4 loop PWR. Full details of the PEPSE modeling and impacts are included, as well as thermal and mechanical shear stress considerations. Turbine stresses are expected to be balanced and nonproblematic. Thermal stresses in piping and heat transfer systems are typical and manageable. Mechanical shear stresses in the feedwater drain valves will require special consideration due to high steam velocities. Some drain valves will need to be replaced, and other valves will require additional monitoring to account for potential increased wear. Reactor response to load rejection or other transient events need to be assessed for acceptability through further core and plant response analysis. | Preliminary Analysis and Evaluation of Thermal Stress Induced by High-Capacity Thermal Energy Delivery | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 1/30/2024 | Thermal Energy Dispatch | 4/17/2024 11:14 AM | |
| This study investigates the different options for coupling thermal energy (TES) systems to a pressurized light water reactor (PWR) and assesses the competitiveness of PWR-TES systems considering different technological constraints, industrial requirements, and market conditions. The present work draws on heat balance analysis results obtained from extracting 30% heat from a 4-loop Westinghouse PWR plant. Previous research has determined that two-tank molten salt TES designs are one of and perhaps the most practical option for delivering PWR heat to industrial customers. | Evaluating Energy Storage Options and Costs for Consistent Energy Supply to Non-Electric Sectors, INL/RPT-24-76179 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 1/15/2024 | Thermal Energy Dispatch | 1/16/2024 9:17 AM | |
| This report is a preliminary progress report which specifically addresses hydrogen generation opportunities from NPPs in the U.S. Gulf Coast Region including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, beginning with Entergy operated NPPs. | Technical Economic Assessment of LWR-Supported Hydrogen Markets in Gulf Coast Regions, INL/RPT-23-75604 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 11/30/2023 | Design and Economics | 12/14/2023 10:41 AM | Design and Economics |
| This report documents ongoing efforts to develop and test TPD operations within commercial full-scope NPP simulators. First, the report describes further modifications that have been made to the GPWR TPD model and HMI to align those tools with a new TPD design developed by Sargent and Lundy. The new modifications include an automatic control system for testing advanced control concepts. This report also contains a description of work performed in collaboration with Westinghouse using their three-loop pressurized water reactor (W3LPWR) simulator, which contains an industrial-grade automatic control system. | Advancements in Development and Testing of Thermal Power Dispatch Simulators, INL/RPT-23-74799 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 9/29/2023 | Thermal Energy Dispatch | 4/17/2024 11:15 AM | |
| The purpose of this report is to compare and rank energy storage technologies that can store energy from an LWR for a wide spectrum of storage durations. For the purposes of this report 500 MWe-AC of discharge capacity was chosen as the capacity upon which all of the energy storage options are compared. | Comparison of Energy Storage and Arbitrage Options for Nuclear Power, INL/RPT-23-74644 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 9/28/2023 | Design and Economics | 9/28/2023 2:49 PM | |
| The results described herein are based on a generic reference plant and PEPSE model. Plant-specific evaluation of core/plant response and equipment would be required for any station considering a modification of this type. The results of a site-specific evaluation may differ from this generic PEPSE model analysis and equipment assessment based on plant/equipment design, operation, and age. | Impacts of Extracting 30% of Reactor Power from a Pressurized Water Reactor, INL/RPT-23-74666 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 9/28/2023 | Thermal Energy Dispatch | 9/28/2023 2:39 PM | |
| This report builds upon the body of work sponsored by the DOE LWRS FPOG program that presented generic PRAs for the addition of a HES to light-water reactors to support the co-location of a HTEF. | Expansion of Hazards and Probabilistic Risk Assessments of a Light-Water Reactor Coupled with Electrolysis Hydrogen Production Plants, INL/RPT-23-74319 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 8/30/2023 | Safety Assessments | 8/30/2023 4:11 PM | Safety Assessments |
| FPOG Pathway is developing options to help U.S. NPP in all these areas to enable NPPs designed for steady baseload operation to integrate with intermittent wind and solar capacity to assure reliable clean energy for the nation. Current and near-term laboratory research is focusing on the technical, regulatory, safety, demonstration, and economic elements in support of improving nuclear plant flexibility through hybrid production of electricity and other non-electric products such as hydrogen and energy arbitrage. | Report on the Creation and Progress of the Hydrogen Regulatory Research Review Group, INL/RPT-22-66844, Revision 2 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 8/28/2023 | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery | 8/30/2023 12:35 PM | |
| The purpose of this work reported herein was to specify, design, build, demonstrate, and deploy a simplified user-friendly NPP-HTSE hydrogen profitability analysis tool to provide utility companies operating NPPs with a quick and semi-intuitive interface to evaluate the opportunity of integrating HTSE hydrogen production with existing LWR NPPs. | Estimating the Value of Nuclear Integrated Hydrogen Production and the Dependency of Electricity and Hydrogen Markets on Natural Gas, INL/RPT-23-73909 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 8/23/2023 | Design and Economics | 2/5/2024 12:01 PM | |
| The intent of this study is to investigate the risk of a hydrogen production facility in close proximity to an NPP. A 100 MW, 500 MW, and 1,000 MW facility are evaluated herein. Previous analyses have evaluated preliminary designs of a hydrogen production facility in a conservative manner to determine if it is feasible to co-locate the facility within 1 km of an NPP. This analysis specifically evaluates the risk components of different hydrogen production facility designs, including the likelihood of a leak within the system and the associated consequence to critical NPP targets. This analysis shows that although the likelihood of a leak in an HTEF is not negligible, the consequence to critical NPP targets is not expected to lead to a failure given adequate distance from the plant. | Risk Analysis of a Hydrogen Generation Facility near a Nuclear Power Plant, SAND2023-07884 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 8/15/2023 | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery | 8/30/2023 11:25 AM | |
| This report describes simulations that were performed to verify that a NPP tightly coupled to a SOEC hydrogen production plant can qualify for participating in non-spinning and spinning and contingency reserve markets by providing spinning reserve power to the bulk electric grid in less than 10 minutes. Previous work with Sargent & Lundy developed a preliminary design and cost estimate for coupling an NPP to a 500 MW nominal SOEC plant, and this work builds on that effort by simulating their combined dynamic operation in a representative grid environment. For the simulations, a 4-loop PWR plant and a solid oxide electrolysis plant were modeled in Matlab/Simulink and connected to a representative grid modeled in RSCAD. | Simulation of Power Dispatch from a PWR/SOEC System for Contingency Reserves, INL/RPT-23-73164 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 6/29/2023 | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery | 7/10/2023 11:53 AM | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery |
| As non-dispatchable renewables, predominantly wind and solar, continue to penetrate U.S. energy markets, economic and capability challenges are becoming increasingly prevalent for traditional baseload generators, such as nuclear power plants. These pressures have led to decreased efficiencies and closures for nuclear plants which are vital to meeting national decarbonization goals. In an attempt to maximize efficiency and
maintain the existing nuclear fleet, new ways to integrate energy systems are being sought after. | Heat Balance Model Analysis and Equipment Assessment for 30% Thermal Extraction from a Nuclear Power Plant | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 6/1/2023 | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery | 8/30/2023 12:27 PM | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery |
| Nuclear power plants (NPPs) are considering flexible plant operations to take advantage of excess thermal and electrical energy. One option for NPPs is to pursue hydrogen production through high temperature electrolysis as an alternate revenue stream to remain economically viable. The intent of this study is to investigate the risk of a 100 MW hydrogen production facility in close proximity to an NPP. Previous analyses have evaluated preliminary designs of a hydrogen production facility in a conservative manner to determine if it is feasible to co-locate the facility within 1 km of an NPP. This analysis specifically evaluates the risk components of a 100 MW hydrogen production facility design, including the likelihood of a leak within the system and the associated consequence to critical NPP targets. This analysis shows that although the likelihood of a leak in an HTEF is not negligible, the consequence to critical NPP targets is not expected to lead to a failure given adequate distance from the plant. | Risk Analysis of a 100 MW Hydrogen Generation Facility near a Nuclear Power Plant, SAND2023-04192 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 5/25/2023 | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery | 6/19/2023 11:30 AM | |
| Computer modeling was performed for the thermal and electrical designs. The steady-state parameters for thermal extraction from the turbine cycle were determined using PEPSE, which is a software program for analyzing the steady-state thermal cycle performance of electric generating plants. | Preconceptual Designs of Coupled Power Delivery between a 4-Loop PWR and 100-500 MWe HTSE Plants, INL/RPT-23-71939, Rev 1 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 5/19/2023 | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery | 6/19/2023 6:32 AM | |
| Computer modeling was performed for the thermal and electrical designs. The steady-state parameters for thermal extraction from the turbine cycle were determined using PEPSE, which is a software program for analyzing the steady-state thermal cycle performance of electric generating plants. | Preconceptual Designs of Coupled Power Delivery between a 4-Loop PWR and 100-500 MWe HTSE Plants, INL/RPT-23-71939 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 4/28/2023 | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery | 5/12/2023 9:36 AM | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery |
| This study evaluates the use of industrial heat to provide the required heat for HTSE hydrogen production, enabling the LWR nuclear power plant to provide the electricity needed for HTSE while producing hydrogen for industrial processes. This approach would accelerate the development of nuclear-integrated hydrogen production without having to extract thermal energy from NPPs. The study focuses on ammonia and synthetic-fuels production as industrial processes, with other processes mentioned but not analyzed in detail. | Analysis of Industrial Heat Sources for Hydrogen Production via HTSE, INL/RPT-23-7218 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 4/26/2023 | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery | 8/14/2023 9:47 AM | |
| This report summarizes progress in developing and testing full-scope NPP simulators at the INL HSSL that are being used to test operating concepts, address human factors, and prove the NPP operators can reliably and safely dispatch thermal and electrical power to a hydrogen plant. Development and testing of NPP simulators address two principal LWRS needs. | NPP Simulators for Coupled Thermal and Electric Power Dispatch, INL/RPT-22-70545 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 12/22/2022 | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery | 1/17/2023 3:49 PM | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery |
| This report documents the implementation of a data link between the INL HSSL and the INL Energy Systems Laboratory connecting a small-scale high-temperature electrolysis pilot plant and an electricity grid simulation capability. This connection enables virtual/physical co-simulation of an NPP to help develop operating concepts and control systems that will enable nuclear plant operators to dispatch thermal energy and electrical power between a close-coupled hydrogen plant, the electricity grid, or energy storage buffers that can be used for power arbitrage. | Co-simulation of Hydrogen Production with Nuclear Power Plants, INL/RPT-22-70457 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 12/20/2022 | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery | 12/20/2022 10:47 AM | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery |
| This report summarizes progress in developing and testing full-scope NPP simulators at the Idaho Nation Laboratory (INL) Human Systems Simulation Lab (HSSL) that are being used to test operating concepts, address human factors, and prove the NPP operators can reliably and safely dispatch thermal and electrical power to a hydrogen plant. Development and testing of NPP simulators addresses two principal LWRS needs. First, testing of simulators with human operators in real-time provides validation of the concept-of-operations to ensure the modifications to the nuclear power plant enable achieving the intended objectives of rapid dispatch of both thermal and electric power while not compromising safety, including human factors considerations. Second, testing the simulators in real-time with human operators and physical hardware-in-the-loop verifies the functionality and safeguards in the proposed control systems. | NPP Simulators for Coupled Thermal and Electric Power Dispatch, INL/RPT-22-02973 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 12/14/2022 | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery | 5/12/2023 9:36 AM | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery |
| This report details an expansion of the original two generic probabilistic risk assessments (PRAs) for the addition of a heat extraction system (HES) to a light-water reactor, one for a pressurized-water reactor and one for a boiling-water reactor. The new material in this revision includes a new HES design, direct electrical coupling of the nuclear power plant to the High-Temperature Electrolysis Facility (HTEF), and a smaller 100-MWt HTEF analysis. The results investigate the applicability of the potential licensing approaches, which do not require a full United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing review. The PRAs are generic and include some assumptions. We eliminated many conservative assumptions from the preliminary pressurized-water reactor PRA report using design data for both the HES and HTEF. | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation Probabilistic Risk Assessment of a Light-Water Reactor Coupled with a High-Temperature Electrolysis Hydrogen Production Plant, INL/EXT-20-60104 Revision 1 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 11/17/2022 | Safety Assessments | 5/15/2023 3:53 PM | |
| H3RG was formed to begin identification of the generic technical and safety risks that could be accepted under a 10 CFR 50.59 evaluation and thus avoid the uncertainty of the LAR process. Thus, the generic guidance serves to reduce complex regulatory approvals under the LAR process that might otherwise be required. In support of this objective, the H3RG includes a broad collaboration with primary participants from DOE-supported national laboratory research leads, contracted AE participants, and nuclear utility licensing and design experts. | Report on the Creation and Progress of the Hydrogen Regulatory Research Review Group, INL/EXT-22-02126 Revision 1 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 11/15/2022 | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery | 5/15/2023 2:30 PM | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery |
| This report presents a multi-facility coordinated research plan for fiscal years 2023 through 2025 for analyzing integrated electric and thermal power dispatch from commercial light water reactors to tertiary industrial loads. The work will be performed within the DOE LWRS — Flexible Plant Operation and Generation Research Pathway. | Multi-Facility Coordinated Thermal Power Dispatch Research Plan, INL/RPT-22-69493 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 9/30/2022 | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery | 12/20/2022 9:45 AM | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery |
| A case study analysis was performed to evaluate nuclear-powered synthetic fuel production in the midwestern US. A Fischer-Tropsch fuel synthesis plant design was used as the basis for the analysis. The FT plant design was configured to produce a product slate consisting of diesel fuel, jet fuel, and motor gasoline blend stocks from CO2 and H2 feedstocks. The CO2 feedstock for the FT plant was assumed to be sourced from biorefineries in the region around a Midwest LWR NPP. The analysis specifies that power from the LWR is used to produce H2 via high-temperature steam electrolysis and to operate the FT synfuel production plant. | Production of Fischer-Tropsch Synfuels at Nuclear Plants, INL/RPT-22-69047 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 9/30/2022 | Design and Economics | 12/20/2022 9:46 AM | Design and Economics |
| Opportunity for nuclear power plants to participate in a first-of-a-kind commercial nuclear H2 project intended to bring industry partners together to create regional clean H2 hubs. The report discusses the set of activities that are now underway or that are planned for completion by the FPOG Pathway to reduce the economic, technical, regulatory, and safety risks of these projects. DOE cross-program activities are being coordinated to ensure success in the timeframe allowed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. | Plan for Scaling Up Hydrogen Production with Nuclear Power Plants, INL/RPT-22-68155 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 8/1/2022 | Design and Economics | 12/20/2022 10:48 AM | Design and Economics |
| The HERON is a generic software plugin for the RAVEN to perform stochastic technoeconomic analysis of IES with economic drivers. This report summarizes the updates made to HERON 2.0. | Release a Public Version of HERON 2.0 with Improved Algorithms for the Treatment of Energy Storage, INL-EXT-21-65476 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 12/20/2021 | Design and Economics | 12/20/2022 10:46 AM | Design and Economics |
| With increased penetration of variable renewable energy resources that are often subsidized and competition from low natural gas prices, existing LWR NPPs are struggling to remain economically competitive. This work examines the potential economic competitiveness of various TES technologies when coupled directly or indirectly with an NPP. To highlight their relative economic competitiveness, we contrast several energy storage solutions in stochastic dispatch optimization. | A Technical and Economic Assessment of LWR Flexible Operation for Generation/Demand Balancing to Optimize Plant Revenue, INL/EXT-21-65473 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 12/1/2021 | Design and Economics | 2/1/2023 9:16 AM | Design and Economics |
| The objective of this work was to perform technoeconomic analysis (TEA) of hybrid options that could be integrated with light-water reactor (LWR) nuclear power plants (NPPs) in order to improve the viability and sustainability of existing LWRs through product diversification by using nuclear energy, not only to produce grid electricity, but also to produce carbon-free products, such as hydrogen, ammonia, or synthetic fuels. | Technoeconomic Analysis of Product Diversification Options for Sustainability of the Monticello and Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plants, INL/EXT-21-62563 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 11/19/2021 | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery | 6/19/2023 11:31 AM | |
| A capability to include coupled thermal and electric power dispatch has also been enabled by connecting the TPD-GPWR simulator to power system real-time digital simulation (RTDS) capabilities at INL. A feasibility study of electrical coupling was performed and summarized in Section 2. Simulated industrial loads less than approximately 60 MWe can be couped to the TPD-GPWR as a house load while still being able to meet the requirement that a single unit auxiliary transformer (UAT) be able to support all auxiliary loads. | Evaluation of Hybrid Flexible Plant Operation and Generation Applications in Regulated and Deregulated Markets Using HERON, INL/EXT-21-63226 | | Flexible Plant Operation and Generation | 10/1/2021 | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery | 5/12/2023 9:37 AM | Thermal and Electrical Power Delivery |