Design and Technology Features of the MMRTM and

its Deployment Pathway.

Frederik Reitsma
Director for Analysis
USNC-France

frederik.reitsma@usnc.com

info@usnc.com
www.usnc.com Twitter: @UltraSafeNuke
© 2021 ULTRA SAFE NUCLEAR
 Contents
‒ Who is Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation

‒ The Micro Modular Reactor (MMRTM)

‒ Features
‒ Plans
‒ Characteristics

‒ Micro-SMRs – Five barriers to deployment

‒ How MMRTM addressing these
‒ Other progress made in SMR community

‒ Final thoughts

2
© 2021 ULTRA SAFE NUCLEAR
 Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation Started 2011 - 100+ employees today

Private Investment:

Clean Reliable Power Anywhere 2010-2019: 20M

2019-2020: 30M
2021-2024: 500M

What is unique about USNC:

• Technology (ultra safe fuel and
reactor design) – safe to public,
environment and investment
• Small size of individual project,
infinite scalability of model
• Aim to be the first micro reactor
power (commercial partnership
with Ontario Power Generation)
• Clear path to near-term
profitability

www.usnc.com
Progress to executing Canada’s First
SMR Project
• Vendor design review with the CNSC is
entering Phase 2
• First agreement to site at CNL/AECL
signed
• Active application for an Environmental
Assessment and License to Prepare Site
• GFP Partnership established with OPG
to build, own, and operate the plant
• Plan to bring Canada’s first SMR into
operation

…. coming soon!

© 2021 ULTRA SAFE NUCLEAR

4
The MMR™ reactor unit

• Micro-modular containerized
construction
• Mass manufactured
• Rapid deployment on site
• Designed for power and/or process Silicon Carbide

heat
• Fully load-compliant
• Can produce hydrogen TRISO
Particles

• Simple, safe disposal of fuel at end of

life
Fully Ceramic Micro-encapsulated (FCM™)
• MELT-DOWN PROOF fuel

© 2021 ULTRA SAFE NUCLEAR 5

 Key Component – FCM™ Fuel
Fully Ceramic Micro-encapsulated™ Fully Ceramic Micro-encapsulated
(FCM™) Fuel (FCM™) fuel

- Manufactured with TRISO coated fuel

particles compacted in specially sintered
Silicon Carbide pellets TRISO
Particles Silicon Carbide
- An extension of a reliable and historically
proven technology resulting in an extra
and very strong barriers against
radioactivity release
- Full containment of radioactive materials
during operations and accident
conditions
- Significantly reduces any chance of
proliferation
- Provides environmental protection in the
permanent repository after operations

© 2021 ULTRA SAFE NUCLEAR 6

Summary MMRTM essential data and features

➢ modular reactor and modular powerplant,

➢ adjacent non-nuclear power conversion plant;
➢ no EPZ required; Design life (years) 20
➢ load following / fully dispatchable;
Plant footprint (m2) 130 x 96
➢ nuclear reactor isolated from load via molten salt loop;
RPV height/diameter (m) 8.1 / 3.1
➢ < 6 months assembly at site
Seismic Design (SSE) 0.3g

Reactor type High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor / micro-

Coolant/moderator
Thermal/electrical capacity, MW(t)/MW(e)
Primary circulation
NHSS Operating Pressure
(primary/secondary), MPa
Core Inlet/Outlet Coolant
Temperature (oC)
Fuel type/assembly array
Fuel enrichment (%)
Core Discharge Burnup (GWd/ton)
Refuelling Cycle (months)
➢ Large negative T coefficient (and T margins)
reactor / nuclear battery
Helium / Graphite ➢ BP loading to manage lifetime reactivity
15 / >5 changes with burnup
Forced circulation
3MPa primary, 100kPa secondary
➢ Control rod and shutdown rods
➢ Passive safety systems
Helium 300 / 630, solar salt stored at 560 ➢ Modular HTGR approach – no coolant or
FCMTM or TRISO graphite /Hexagonal
moving parts needed for decay heat
HALEU 19.75% removal
~ 90
7
Never; for the lifetime
MMR Standard Plant for Remote Deployment: Fundamental change in thinking

The MMR-REM standard plant design The plant consists of the Nuclear Plant and
the Adjacent Plant
- The Adjacent Plant produces power for
client processes
- The Adjacent Plant interfaces Nuclear Plant
to the client
In the Nuclear Plant – two identical
15 MWth reactor modules
- Reactor modules produce process heat
only
- The Nuclear Plant elements are standard
for all applications
- Utilities and services from the Adjacent
Plant are NOT safety critical
Acceptance of this approach essential for success…
it can be demonstrated with high level of
© 2021 ULTRA SAFE NUCLEAR confidence 8
 MMR™ Energy System Air Cooled
Turbine
Layout for RemoteOff-grid applications Condensers

ThermalPower

30 MWt (15 x2)

ElectricalPower
10 MWe (5 x2)

Steam
Learn more about MMR
Generator technology on you iOS or
Android device.
Lifetime
20years Molten Salt
Nuclear Heat Reservoir
Refueling Reactors
None in 20years Helium Circulator

9
 Fire barriers to deployment – Private vendors
Five key barriers presently exist for continued private-industry
investments to support development and deployment of
advanced reactors.

These are:
➢ High capital costs and associated investment risks.
➢ Required technology development and associated costs.
➢ Regulatory licensing risks.
➢ Risk to investment from high-consequence unpredictable events.
➢ Economic risk compared to fossil fuels and other energy alternatives

10
© 2021 ULTRA SAFE NUCLEAR
Deployment models and choices – Addressing the risks - I
➢ High capital costs and associated investment risks.

Advantages being small / micro SMR: Large NPP

‒ Capital costs and financial risks are significantly lower
at the micro scale > b$7

‒ Compete in niche markets

‒ Currently often served by diesel generators SMRs
‒ Can be cost competitive from the onset ! < b$1.5
‒ Clean and green – assist communities and mining
operations to fulfil their climate obligations
Micro-SMR
‒ Ideal size to deploy at universities to enable training
and R&D on advanced reactors < b$0.1

‒ Ideal size to easily integrated in hybrid / micro grids

(to demonstrate and learn)

‒ Modular deployment for larger markets 11

© 2021 ULTRA SAFE NUCLEAR
Deployment models and choices – Addressing the risks - II
➢ Required technology development and associated costs.
MMRTM – a mature GEN IV micro scale advanced
reactor:
‒ From the onset aim to make decisions that can
assure deployment within 5 years
‒ Design choices based on proven technology
‒ High Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) - (on
average between 6 and 7)
‒ Plan some targeted R&DT especially to support
licensing
MMR Technology Basis:
‒ Past and current operating HTGRs
‒ Significant R&D done under US DOE programme such as
MHTGR, NGNP and AGR
‒ DOE AGR program to qualify TRISO fuel and nuclear-grade
graphite
‒ FCM fuel development (part of LWR accident tolerant fuel)
‒ Solar salt (CS experience / mature technology)

12
© 2021 ULTRA SAFE NUCLEAR
 Deployment models and choices – Addressing the risks - III
➢ Regulatory licensing risks.
Regulations and licensing factors:
‒ Progress made in licensing and new approach to
advanced reactors / SMRs
‒ Vendor Design Review (VDR) in Canada
‒ US NRC non-water cooled regulations published
‒ EPZ on site boundary (accepted / possible)
‒ IAEA hosted SMR Regulators’ Forum
ASME:
‒ NRC endorsement of ASME non-LWR PRA standard is
also in the works
‒ ASME Section III, Division 5, High Temperature
Reactors - The high temperature code for metallics
and non-metallics.
‒ NRC review and endorsement is currently
underway - draft RG by April 2021
© 2021 ULTRA SAFE NUCLEAR
US initiatives to support Advanced Reactor development and
licensing
Licensing modernization program (LMP)
‒ NEI 18-04 - systematic, risk-informed, performance-based, and
predictable methodology to reduce licensing uncertainty
‒ NRC Draft Guide-1353 which endorses NEI 18-04
‒ Technology neutral: ASME Section XI, Division 2 Requirements
for Reliability and Integrity Management (RIM) Programs for
Nuclear Power Plants (also under NRC review).
‒ Appendices on LWRs, HTGRS and has placeholders for
molten salt and liquid metal reactors
‒ addresses in-service inspection, reliability, on-line
monitoring, ageing management and maintenance
programs.
13
 Canada - CNSC Vendor Design Review
CNSC optional pre-licensing:
‒ Vendor design review
‒ Provides information – inform licensing of a project
‒ It is not a design certification nor a license
Advantages to vendor:
‒ Verify its understanding of Canadian Requirements
‒ Obtain early feedback from CNSC staff on how Canadian
requirements are being addressed in design and safety
analysis
‒ New design features and approaches are being addressed

Opportunity for CNSC staff:

‒ Develop an understanding of both
the vendor’s organization and its
design concept
‒ Anticipate regulatory challenges
before a licensing process is
triggered

OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND CLARIFY

© 2021 ULTRA SAFE NUCLEAR

14
 USNC and VDR status
USNC VDR Phase 1:
‒ The process has started in December 2016
‒ All 19 Focus Areas split into 4 packages have been
submitted over the period of 6 month
‒ Several meetings / Requests for additional
information
‒ USNC has successfully completed VDR Phase 1 with
the issuance of a VDR Phase 1 report by the CNSC and
subsequent discussion between the parties.
‒ The overall conclusions and key findings are
posted on the CNSC website as an executive
summary for public information
https://nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/reactors/power-
USNC VDR Phase 2:
plants/pre-licensing-vendor-design-review/executive-
‒ A number of Request for Information which had to be
summary-ultra-safe-nuclear-corporation.cfm
addressed; many of them to be followed up into VDR
Phase 2
(Presentation by CNSC tomorrow) ‒ Under progress in 2021
…. nothing that we cannot overcome 15
© 2021 ULTRA SAFE NUCLEAR
https://nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/reactors/power-plants/pre-licensing-vendor-design-review/index.cfm
 Deployment models and choices – Addressing the risks – IV and V

➢ Risk to investment from high-consequence unpredictable events.

➢ Economic risk compared to fossil fuels and other energy alternatives

Exclude high-consequence unpredictable events Reduce economic risk by niche /hybrid systems

MMRTM advantages being small / micro SMR: MMRTM Economic approach:

‒ Safety first
‒ Meltdown proof
‒ The MMR™ design follows a consequence bounded
approach, significantly reducing investment risk.
‒ All accidents and incidents are evaluated
deterministically, including beyond design basis
events.
‒ Very large margins (assisted by being small and
lifetime core)
‒ No cliff-edge effects
‒ Fuel form ideal for long term disposal
© 2021 ULTRA SAFE NUCLEAR
‒ Initially compete in niche markets
‒ Currently often served by diesel generators
‒ Can be cost competitive from the onset !
‒ Clean and green – assist communities and mining
operations to fulfil their climate obligations
‒ Can be complementary to renewables
‒ Load follow already built in the standardized design
‒ Multiple products (from heat generated)
‒ power, process heat, hydrogen production
‒ district heat, desalination
16
 Final thoughts of specific HTGR micro-reactors / MMRTM
How to achieve MMRTM :
Main elements of deployment pathway:

‒ The MMR™ is carbon neutral green source of energy

‒ with a low capital cost,
‒ a short payback period (compared to large
nuclear)
‒ and a fixed fuel price for 20 years.

‒ The MMR™ is constructed in a factory

‒ controlled environment
‒ schedule slips are absorbed before work on site
even starts
‒ QA control in factory setting is easier achievable
‒ is only assembled on site in a very short period (6
months).
Construction:
‒ All elements of the plant shall be constructed, to the
greatest extent possible, from modules in the following
standard module frames
‒ Resembles installation more than construction
‒ Below grade structures - we need consensus standards for
below grade seismic design of important to safety
structures

© 2021 ULTRA SAFE NUCLEAR

17
Final thoughts of specific HTGR micro-reactors / MMRTM
Technical and Safety features recapped
‒ MUCH less Safety Systems / no need for active cooling
‒ Can implement a simplified SSC classification and associated QA
(and Seismic requirement)
‒ Essential to only define nuclear plant as safety related and to
exclude the adjacent plant

‒ FCM fuel form:

‒ Excellent safety in the reactor (very large margins)
‒ Difficult to reprocess (even more difficult than TRISO) /
non-proliferation
‒ Excellent form for final disposal (contain FPs, high burnup,
low power density)
‒ Lifetime core
‒ NO FUEL handling or storage on-site
‒ security of supply / known fuel cost
‒ Safety, Security and Safeguards simplification

© 2021 ULTRA SAFE NUCLEAR

18
 MMRTM …… ready to build – now
‒ Use high temperature solid ceramic fuels
(FCM) and moderators
‒ Keep all radioactive material safely
‒ Fastest possible deployment
enclosed and contained - at all times
in current environment
‒ Produce the added benefit of highly
‒ Advanced + simple enough efficient flexible power utilization
to get licensed and built fast ‒ Limit power density of reactor - reactor
‒ First Gen-IV reactor in North lacks internal energy to damage itself
‒ All heat dissipates passively by

Thank YOU
America
conduction and radiation – no
moving parts or fluids
‒ Physically self-stabilizing w/o controls
(solid state); totally noninteracting
materials and coolants (helium)
‒ Safe to environment, people, and
investment

© 2021 ULTRA SAFE NUCLEAR

USNC-France 19