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1
A Look at Nuclear Scienceand Technology
Larry Foulke
Module 6.4
Reactor Fuel and Economics
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Fuel Assembly Features
Top Nozzle
Bottom Nozzle
Grid Strap
Grid Strap
Grid Strap
Grid Strap
Guide Tubes
Fuel Rods
Rod Cluster ControlAssembly(not in all assemblies)
shown partially withdrawn
Image Source: See Note 1
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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
Image Source: See Note 2
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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)
Oxide / Ceramic Fuel Limitations
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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
Fuel Assembly Design Objectives
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Objectives Flat power distribution
Minimum fluence on reactor vessel
Maximum burnup / minimum fuel
Minimum fuel cycle costs
Shape and structural design of reactor cannotbe changed after design and construction
Optimization is achieved through in-core fuelmanagement How to arrange fuel assemblies in core (based on
enrichment & burnup) to meet objectives
Fuel Utilization
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In-Core Fuel Management
Single fuel enrichment batch (poor)
Power peaking Low power capability
Uneven / relatively low burnup Poor economy
Multiple-batch fuel management (better)
Several Enrichments Flatten power distribution across core
Reduce pressure-vessel fluence
Compromises to achieve balance between objectives
Fuel Utilization
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TypicalFuel
Loading
Pattern
Image Source: See Note 1
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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 0.9%
Buildings and Site Equipment 10.6%
Nuclear Island Equipment & Spare Parts 19.0%
Conventional Island Equipment & Spare Parts 9.4%
Balance of Plant Equipment 5.2%
Nuclear Fuel (Initial Core) 5.8%
Erection 6.7%
Testing and Commissioning 1.5%
Project Management and Services 7.3% Other 4.6%
Contingencies 5.7%
Financing 22.9%
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Nuclear Capital Cost Estimates
Image Source: See Note 3
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Impact of Fuel Costs on Electricity Costs
Image Source: See Note 4
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Source: Energy Information Administration
Updated: 3/12
Image Source: See Note 5
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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 ForcesEquipment
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U.S. Electricity Production Costs1995-2011, In 20 11 cen t s pe r k i l ow a t t -hou r
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.
Image Source: See Note 6
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Projected Costs of Electricity
Image Source: See Note 7
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Five Major Design Categories
NUCLEAR DESIGN
MATERIALSTHERMAL HYDRAULICS
ECONOMICS
CONTROL AND SAFETY
Reactor Design Principles
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NUCLEAR DESIGN
Fissile / Fertile / Other
Fuel Assemblies
Composition / Geometry
Coolant / Moderator
Neutron Spectrum
Relative Reaction Rates
Reactor Design Principles
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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
Reactor Design Principles
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MATERIALS
Fuel / Clad
Moderator / Coolant
Structure
Compatibility
Corrosion
Chemical Reactions
Thermal / Radiation Stability
Strength / Mechanical Properties
Reactor Design Principles
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CONTROL AND SAFETY
Integrated Control
Control Rods
Monitoring / Protection System
Decay Heat
Multiple-Barrier Containment
Radioactive Waste Quantities
Defense in Depth
Reactor Design Principles
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1. Reprinted with permission from Westinghouse. Source: The Westinghouse PressurizedWater Reactor Nuclear Power Plant (The Masche Book).
2. Public domain: USNRC, http://www.nrc.gov/images/reading-rm/photo-gallery/20071114-022.jpg
3. Reprinted with permission from Nuclear Energy Institute.
http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/newplants/graphicsandcharts/the-cost-of-new-generating-capacity-in-perspective/
4. Reprinted with permission from the World Nuclear Association. http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Economic-Aspects/Economics-of-Nuclear-Power/#.UWNeWHDA5sE
5. Reprinted with permission from Nuclear Energy Institute.http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/reliableandaffordableenergy/graphicsandcharts/usnuclearindustrycapacityfactors/
6. Reprinted with permission from Nuclear Energy Institute.http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/reliableandaffordableenergy/graphicsandcharts/uselectricityproductioncosts/
7. Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Outlook for 2013, December 2012.http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/aeo/er/index.cfm
Image Source Notes
http://www.nrc.gov/images/reading-rm/photo-gallery/20071114-022.jpghttp://www.nrc.gov/images/reading-rm/photo-gallery/20071114-022.jpghttp://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/newplants/graphicsandcharts/the-cost-of-new-generating-capacity-in-perspective/http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/newplants/graphicsandcharts/the-cost-of-new-generating-capacity-in-perspective/http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Economic-Aspects/Economics-of-Nuclear-Power/http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Economic-Aspects/Economics-of-Nuclear-Power/http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/reliableandaffordableenergy/graphicsandcharts/usnuclearindustrycapacityfactors/http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/reliableandaffordableenergy/graphicsandcharts/usnuclearindustrycapacityfactors/http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/reliableandaffordableenergy/graphicsandcharts/uselectricityproductioncosts/http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/reliableandaffordableenergy/graphicsandcharts/uselectricityproductioncosts/http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/aeo/er/index.cfmhttp://www.eia.gov/forecasts/aeo/er/index.cfmhttp://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/reliableandaffordableenergy/graphicsandcharts/uselectricityproductioncosts/http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/reliableandaffordableenergy/graphicsandcharts/uselectricityproductioncosts/http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/reliableandaffordableenergy/graphicsandcharts/usnuclearindustrycapacityfactors/http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/reliableandaffordableenergy/graphicsandcharts/usnuclearindustrycapacityfactors/http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Economic-Aspects/Economics-of-Nuclear-Power/http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Economic-Aspects/Economics-of-Nuclear-Power/http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/newplants/graphicsandcharts/the-cost-of-new-generating-capacity-in-perspective/http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/newplants/graphicsandcharts/the-cost-of-new-generating-capacity-in-perspective/http://www.nrc.gov/images/reading-rm/photo-gallery/20071114-022.jpghttp://www.nrc.gov/images/reading-rm/photo-gallery/20071114-022.jpg