03.18.2022
Use of PRA to Support Selection of Licensing Basis Events for Advanced Reactors
SECY-19-0117 (December 2, 2019) and Regulatory Guide 1.233 Revision 0 (June 2020) provide the regulatory guidance for a technology-inclusive, risk-informed, and performance-based methodology to inform the licensing basis and content for applications of licenses, certifications, and approvals for non-light water reactors. NEI 18-04 Revision 0 (August 2019) provides the risk-informed performance-based technology Inclusive guidance for […]
03.18.2022
Nuclear Plant License Renewal – From Feasibility to Beyond NRC Approval
By: Matt Brunton, License Renewal Group License Renewal (LR) and Subsequent License Renewal (SLR) are important initiatives for all utilities aiming to extend the service life of their nuclear power plants. LR and SLR are key service areas for ENERCON; we forecast LR and SLR will be a source of significant growth through the 2020s […]
03.18.2022
HALEU: A Key to Advanced Nuclear Designs
According to a USNIC working group meeting last month, there is a push to fund a High-Assay Low-Enrichment Uranium (HALEU) facility in 2030. Here, we explain some of the developments that are set to bolster the supply of HALEU & support advanced nuclear projects throughout the us. High-Assay Low-Enrichment Uranium (HALEU), Uranium Enriched between 5% […]
03.18.2022
The Role of Risk-Informed in Advanced Reactors
By: Justin Wheat Many in the nuclear power industry generally understand what a PRA (probabilistic risk assessment) model is, but how can a PRA model be applied to conceptual advanced reactor designs? It is helpful to first understand the deterministic philosophy that was utilized in the design and licensing of the existing fleet of light-water […]
03.18.2022
Functional Containment in Nuclear Safety
Those familiar with light water reactor (LWR) power plant design will recall that the containment building is the third and final line of defense (behind the fuel cladding and the reactor coolant pressure boundary) for radionuclide release. The containment is a pressure retaining, low leakage structure with prescriptive design requirements. A typical containment structure sits […]
02.17.2022
Advanced Nuclear Outlook
It would be an understatement to say that 2021 was an exciting year for advanced reactors in the US. TerraPower-GE Hitachi and X-Energy’s flagship ARDP demonstration designs have found their respective homes in Kemmerer, WY and Richland, WA. The DoD’s Project Pele has down-selected to BWXT and X-Energy designs of mobile microreactors. Kairos is making […]
01.28.2022
Advanced Reactor Stakeholder Public Meeting
An early topic in the meeting was related to the status of the advanced reactor generic environmental impact statement and rulemaking. The proposed rule package is publicly available and is with the NRC Commission for review and vote. If the Commission votes to approve, there will be a 75-day public comment period. The rulemaking information […]
12.08.2021
The Great American Teach-In
ENERCON engineers are passionate about developing the next generation of engineers and rarely pass on an opportunity to promote STEM to school-aged students. As such, two of our Power Delivery distribution engineers in Tampa, FL, celebrated American Education Week by participating in the Great American Teach-In. On November 18th our engineers virtually presented to 60 […]
11.24.2021
Risk Informed Alternative Treatments for the Environmental Qualification Program
By: Jared Monroe As the nuclear industry continues to adopt risk-informed processes through 10 CFR 50.69, sites are implementing alternate treatments as a means to save money. One area of interest throughout the industry is the implementation of Alternate Treatments (AT) for equipment in the scope of the Environmental Qualification (EQ) program. EQ equipment classified […]
