A Look at Nuclear Science and Technology Larry Foulke

Module 6.4 Reactor Fuel and Economics

Fuel Assembly Features

Rod Cluster Control Assembly (not in all assemblies) shown partially withdrawn Top Nozzle Grid Strap Guide Tubes Grid Strap Fuel Rods Grid Strap

Grid Strap Bottom Nozzle

Nuclear Engineering Program Image Source: See Note 1

FUEL-ASSEMBLY DESIGN
HISTORY
Uranium Metal
Dimensional Changes
Thermal Cycling Radiation Damage

Alloys
Dimensional Stability Parasitic Neutron Capture

Uranium Dioxide
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OXIDE FUEL CHALLENGES

GENERAL FEATURES
Radiation Damage Gas Release
Fission Products Oxygen

Swelling Restructuring
Nuclear Engineering Program Image Source: See Note 2

Oxide / Ceramic Fuel Limitations

Fuel Pellet Limitations
Temperature limits
Low conductivity, large thermal gradient across pin Melting (UO2 @ 2850 C (5160 F))

High temperature in fuel element

Increases fission gas pressure, possible gas release Pellet swelling, material restructuring Catalyzes chemical reactions, possible pellet clad interactions (LWR reactors)

Nuclear Engineering Program

Fuel Assembly Design Objectives

Energy removal - coolable geometry Need good cladding material Multiple-barrier fission-product retention Optimized LWR neutron economy
Maximize fuel utilization (burnup) Maximize fertile-to-fissile conversion

Adjustable design parameters

Fuel enrichment Pin diameter pin spacing (H/U Ratio)

Zirconium is most used cladding material

But it reacts with steam at high temperatures
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Fuel Utilization
Objectives
Flat power distribution Minimum fluence on reactor vessel Maximum burnup / minimum fuel Minimum fuel cycle costs

Shape and structural design of reactor cannot be changed after design and construction Optimization is achieved through in-core fuel management
How to arrange fuel assemblies in core (based on enrichment & burnup) to meet objectives
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Fuel Utilization
In-Core Fuel Management
Single fuel enrichment batch (poor)
Power peaking Low power capability Poor economy

Uneven / relatively low burnup

Multiple-batch fuel management (better) Several Enrichments

Flatten power distribution across core Reduce pressure-vessel fluence Compromises to achieve balance between objectives
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Typical Fuel Loading Pattern

Nuclear Engineering Program

Image Source: See Note 1

ECONOMICS
COST COMPONENTS
Capital Fuel Operating and Maintenance [O&M]

CAPITAL COSTS
Hard to know current capital costs Payback of Plant Investment Carrying Charges Construction Work in Progress [CWIP]
Loan from Rate-Payers Regulatory Resistance

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Nuclear Plant Capital Cost Breakdown

(From Table 8-2, Knief, From IAEA-CN-48/32 (Out of Date !! - Shown for Illustration Only)

Land and Site Preparation Buildings and Site Equipment Nuclear Island Equipment & Spare Parts Conventional Island Equipment & Spare Parts Balance of Plant Equipment Nuclear Fuel (Initial Core) Erection Testing and Commissioning Project Management and Services Other Contingencies Financing

0.9% 10.6% 19.0% 9.4% 5.2% 5.8% 6.7% 1.5% 7.3% 4.6% 5.7% 22.9%

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Nuclear Capital Cost Estimates

Nuclear Engineering Program

Image Source: See Note 3

Impact of Fuel Costs on Electricity Costs

Nuclear Engineering Program

Image Source: See Note 4

Source: Energy Information Administration Updated: 3/12

Nuclear Engineering Program

Image Source: See Note 5

ECONOMICS
OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE [O&M]
Operation Corrective / Preventive Maintenance
Payroll / Supplies & Materials / Other Administration Insurance (Including Price-Anderson) Contingency Funds (Including Decommissioning)

Physical Security
Guard Forces Equipment

Nuclear Engineering Program

U.S. Electricity Production Costs

1995-2011, I n 2011 cents per k ilow att-hour

Production Costs = Operations and Maintenance Costs + Fuel Costs. Production costs do not include indirect costs and are based on FERC Form 1 filings submitted by regulated utilities. Production costs are modeled for utilities that are not regulated.

Nuclear Engineering Program

Image Source: See Note 6

Projected Costs of Electricity

Nuclear Engineering Program

Image Source: See Note 7

Reactor Design Principles

Five Major Design Categories
NUCLEAR DESIGN MATERIALS THERMAL HYDRAULICS ECONOMICS CONTROL AND SAFETY

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Reactor Design Principles

NUCLEAR DESIGN
Fissile / Fertile / Other Fuel Assemblies Composition / Geometry Coolant / Moderator Neutron Spectrum Relative Reaction Rates
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Reactor Design Principles

THERMAL HYDRAULICS
Temperature / Coolant Flow Distributions Linear Heat Rate / DNB / Margins Conductivity / Heat Capacity Melting / Boiling Points Surface-to-Volume Ratio Power Density Steam Temperature
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Reactor Design Principles

MATERIALS
Fuel / Clad Moderator / Coolant Structure Compatibility Corrosion Chemical Reactions Thermal / Radiation Stability Strength / Mechanical Properties
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Reactor Design Principles

CONTROL AND SAFETY
Integrated Control
Control Rods Monitoring / Protection System

Decay Heat Multiple-Barrier Containment Radioactive Waste Quantities Defense in Depth

Nuclear Engineering Program

Image Source Notes

1. 2. 3. Reprinted with permission from Westinghouse. Source: The Westinghouse Pressurized Water Reactor Nuclear Power Plant (The Masche Book). Public domain: USNRC, http://www.nrc.gov/images/reading-rm/photo-gallery/20071114022.jpg Reprinted with permission from Nuclear Energy Institute. http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/newplants/graphicsandcharts/thecost-of-new-generating-capacity-in-perspective/ Reprinted with permission from the World Nuclear Association. http://www.worldnuclear.org/info/Economic-Aspects/Economics-of-Nuclear-Power/#.UWNeWHDA5sE Reprinted with permission from Nuclear Energy Institute. http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/reliableandaffordableenergy/graphics andcharts/usnuclearindustrycapacityfactors/ Reprinted with permission from Nuclear Energy Institute. http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/reliableandaffordableenergy/graphics andcharts/uselectricityproductioncosts/ Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Outlook for 2013, December 2012. http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/aeo/er/index.cfm

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