TerraPower s Molten Chloride Fast Reactor Program. August 7, 2017 ANS Utility Conference

Transcription

1 TerraPower s Molten Chloride Fast Reactor Program August 7, 2017 ANS Utility Conference

2 Molten Salt Reactor Features & Options

3 Key Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) Distinguishing Features Rather than using solid fuel, MSRs use liquid salt fuel. The liquid fuel flows through the core and the heat exchangers. Hot salt rises: drives natural convection to remove decay heat. Hot salt expands: this passively shuts down the reactor if cooling is lost, even without control rods. 3

4 The Molten Chloride Fast Reactor (MCFR) has important features not shared by all MSRs The MCFR is a fast spectrum chloride rather than a thermal spectrum fluoride The MCFR operates on the U-Pu cycle (not Th). The MCFR is a net breed & burn machine. The make-up feed is DU or NatU. MCFR becomes a vegetarian after initial start-up. The fast spectrum largely mitigates fission product poisoning, so the MCFR is not an online reprocessing plant. 4

5 TerraPower focus upon five key aspects for advanced nuclear 5

6 MCFR technology has many features that will improve economics INNOV-MCFR-COST-0001-Rev-1 MOLTEN CHLORIDE FAST REACTOR SYSTEMS COST MODEL FINAL REPORT Final Report on the MCFR System Modeling and Costing Study Low-pressure = lighter structures & piping. Cost Salt synthesis cheaper than fabrication. Cost Refueling during operation. Avail. After startup, no added fissile material. Cost High efficiency, open non-electric (high-value) products. INNOVATION MCFR Abstract This Report details the pre -conceptual design, systems modeling and cost estimation for the TerraPower Molten Chloride Fast Reactor (MCFR). Design Criteria, general plant and subsystem requirements are presented as part of the pre -co nceptual design process. Using these criteria and requirements, a se t of MCFR plant co ncepts are described and with detailed cost estimates for each design. TERRAPOWER PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL SUBJECT TO CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT Costing study completed with Southern Company: Revenue Class 5 cost estimate for MCFR systems (+100%/-50%) Class 3/4 cost estimate for balance of plant (+40%/-20%) Study suggests MCFR cost could even be competitive with domestic natural gas. 6

7 Superior Safety Greatly Reduced Waste The fuel and coolant are the same and do not burn. If overheated, fuel expands & passively shuts down the reactor. With online refueling, does not need large excess reactivity. With low excess reactivity and strong negative temperature feedback, survives even aggressive transients. Can passively remove decay heat indefinitely. No fuel assemblies to fabricate, replace or store. Does not need ongoing enrichment. Waste consists of filtered noble metals & volatile fission products, plus activated core internals. Used fuel can be transferred, without reprocessing, to another plant, eliminating the need for enrichment. Option to burn used LWR fuel in lieu of DU. 7

8 Higher Barriers to Proliferation A More Competitive Marketplace Reduced need for enrichment plants. Without reprocessing, reduced risk of diversion. Actinides stay in core or closelycoupled systems. Actinides always mixed with lanthanides. High burn-up provides resistance. Can load lifetime fuel supply at start & retain used fuel in vessel. No enrichment = Fuel supply security. No specialty fuels manufacturing. Strong non-proliferation traits (exportable/increased markets). Increased siting w/ less water use. Opens non-electric applications (increased markets and siting). 8

9 Development and Testing

10 All elements of the MCFR program are informed and driven by successors Prototype Reactor intended to be same physical size and mirror operations of Commercial Reactor / serve as stepping stone Commercial Reactor MW Class 103 license Test Reactor provides necessary data for licensing & operational experience Integrated Effects Test (IET), in turn, provides data needed to license the Test Reactor Test Reactor 30 MW Class 104 license Prototype Reactor MW Class 103 license MCFR Integrated Effects Test (IET) 10

11 MCFR development is supported, in part, by the DOE ARC award MCFR ARC team successfully completed Budget Period 1. Budget Period 2 scope and budget has been approved. BP2 runs 7/1/17-6/30/18. BP2 scope will provide significant advances: Test Reactor Pre-Conceptual Design Integrated Effects Test (IET) Final Design IET facility build out Start of IET mechanical/electrical construction Additional microloops Polythermal test loop Fuel Salt Synthesis scale up 10

12 There is a pathway to license the MCFR Test and Commercial Prototype Reactors Test Reactor: Testing facility as defined in 10 CFR [Class 104(c) license as defined in 10 CFR 50.21] Develop license application based upon Interim Staff Guidance for NUREG-1537 Commercial Prototype Reactor: Prototype plant as defined in 10 CFR 50.2 [Class 103 license as defined in 10 CFR 50.22] PSAR developed to support the construction permit application FSAR completed to support the operating license application Develop applications utilizing NUREG-0800 as guidance A initial set of white papers and topical reports has been identified (QA, source term, fuel qualification, etc.) As regulatory landscape is updated, we will adjust accordingly 12

13 Our philosophy requires us to get into the laboratory, make mistakes, and accelerate progress There are a number of nuclear start-ups, including some in the molten salt community, that purport to be ready to build reactors without testing. Some claim that the computer codes are sufficient for reactor licensing. This is just not the case. Entities that are not testing simply are not credible. Without testing, you don t know what you don t know 13

14 TerraPower s capabilities position it for success Radiochemistry infrastructure will be crucial to ultimate success. 14

15 After reduction to practice, procured microloops from vendor Constructed from variety of candidate alloys. Operate at coolant salt temperatures of C. Fuel salt microloops coming soon. We will build and operate dozens of microloops over the next 2-3 years 15

16 We will field progressively larger & more complex flow loops Polythermal flow loops in conceptual design (coolant in Q4 2017, fuel salt in Q1 2018) Pump 6 feet Expansion Tank with Level Sensor Air-Cooled Heat Rejection Process Heater (200 kw) Molybdenum pump under procurement (Q1 2018) Isothermal flow loop under procurement (Q3 2017) Flush and Primary Salt Tanks 15

17 The Integrated Effects Test (IET) bridges the gap between separate effects tests and the MCFR test reactor Mission Provide technical support for design and licensing of MCFR test reactor Provide thermal-hydraulic performance data of a polythermal circuit using MCFR high-temperature structural materials and fabrication methods. Goals Fuel salt thermal-hydraulics data for safety and licensing Operate in steady and transient modes Material performance data Increase technical readiness of all MCFR technologies The IET is scheduled to begin operations in March

18 The IET will demonstrate many key aspects of the MCFR 8 systems 29 vessels 12 freeze valves 218 m of piping 11 pumps 46 heaters 14 heat exchangers 13 filters 18

19 Summary TerraPower launched the MCFR development program nearly 4 years ago. The MCFR offers strong performance in safety, cost, waste and proliferation spaces. TerraPower won DOE s ARC award with Southern Company, ORNL, EPRI and Vanderbilt University. ARC work is focused upon the Integrated Effects Test, which is supported by a strong testing program. The IET will lead to Test Reactor operations in 2025 and a Prototype in

20 Acknowledgements This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy under Award Number DE-NE This report is prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of the employees, makes any warranty, express or implied or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by tradename, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or favoring by the United states Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government. 20