NE 127 – Codes, Standards, and Regulations

Power Industry RegulationsINSTRUCTOR: Chattanooga State CC

Topics of Discussion

• Steps in the Production of Electricity • Overview of Basic Power Plant Operation• Regulation of the Nuclear Power Industry– NRC History, Responsibilities, and Structure

Basic Energy Processes

• Natural electrical energy cannot be harnessed– It must be converted from another energy

source• Four steps in the production of electrical energy

Basic Energy Processes Continued

Step 1• (Fossil) Conversion of chemical energy into thermal

energy (heat) through the burning of a fossil fuel (coal, oil, or gas)

• (Nuclear) Conversion of nuclear energy into thermal energy by fission

Step 2• Absorption of thermal energy by water (conversion

of water into steam)

Basic Energy Processes Continued

Step 3• (Fossil and nuclear) Conversion of thermal energy from

steam into mechanical energy as steam jet spins turbine blades

• (Hydro) Conversion of potential energy of water into mechanical energy as water spins turbine blades

Step 4• Conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy as

rotation of turbine shaft rotates the shaft of the electrical generator, thereby producing electricity

Generic Coal Plant Schematic

Alternate Schematic

Detailed Schematic

Coal Plant Facts

• In the 1920s coal plants had to burn 3 lbs of coal to produce 1 kW-hr of electricity

• In the 1970s (time-frame for construction of many existing fossil plants), 1 lb of coal could produce 1 kW-hr of electricity due to improvements in plant efficiency

• It takes ~11 lbs of air to burn 1 lb of coal– Slightly more air than required to ensure complete combustion

• It takes ~1200 tons of water (300,000 gallons) to cool the exhaust steam from the burning of 1 ton of coal

Nuclear Plant Schematic

Alternate Nuclear Plant Schematic

Condenser: Common to Fossil and Nuclear Plants

Inspection of Turbine Blades

Regulation of Nuclear Power Industry

• Due to potential (however slight) for a catastrophic nuclear incident, the U.S. nuclear industry is highly regulated

• Title 10 of the CFR governs Energy regulations– Chapter 1 contains parts 1-199– NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) is the regulating

entity for those codes

History of the NRC

• 1942 – Enrico Fermi, professor at University of Chicago created first sustained nuclear chain reaction under the Chicago Stadium

• Atomic Energy Act of 1946– Provided for the exclusive military use and control of

nuclear energy

• Atomic Energy Act of 1954– Allowed for the commercial use of nuclear energy– Created the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)

History of the NRC Continued

• AEC Objectives1) Promote the development of nuclear power2) Regulate nuclear power

• 1974 – Energy Reorganization Act– Abolished the AEC which was seen as controversial – Created two organizations to perform original AEC

objectives1) Energy Resources Development Administration (ERDA)2) NRC

History of the NRC Continued

• ERDA– Renamed Department of Energy (DOE) in 1975– Governs the development of commercial applications of

nuclear energy

• NRC – Governs regulation of nuclear power

Three Mile Island, PA

• Occurred on March 28, 1979• Approximately half of reactor core melted• Generated fear of widespread radioactive

contamination• No general evacuation was needed• Led to greater NRC emphasis on:– Operator training– “human factors” in plant performance– Emergency planning

NRC Responsibilities

More on NRC Responsibilities

• Key licensing activities– Licensing the construction and operation of nuclear

reactors and other nuclear facilities, and overseeing their decommissioning

– Licensing all facets of nuclear material– Licensing low-level and high-level waste disposal sites– Licensing operators of nuclear power and nonpower test

and research reactors

More on NRC Responsibilities

• Other key responsibilities– Inspection of licensed facilities and activities– Research on light-water reactor safety and identification

of potential safety issues– Development, implementation, and enforcement of NRC

regulations– Investigation of nuclear incidents and allegations– Conducting of public hearings

NRC Organization

• Headed by 5 Commissioners – Appointed by the President– Confirmed by the Senate for 5-year terms

• One Commissioner designated as Chairman– Principal executive officer– Official NRC spokesperson (currently Gregory B. Jaczko)

• Role of Commission– Formulate policies– Develop regulations governing nuclear material safety and security– Issue orders to licensees– Adjudicate legal matters

NRC Organization Continued

*Note: NRC re-organized since the preparation of the red book• Inspector General (Hubert T. Bell) reports to Chairman• Executive Director for Operations (EDO)

– Supervises and coordinates policy development of EDO staff and implements Commission policy directives

• EDO Organization– Oversees 3 principle offices

1) Office for Reactor and Preparedness Programs2) Office for Materials, Waste, Research, State, Tribal and

Compliance Program3) Office for Corporate Management

NRC Structure Continued

• Office for Reactor and Preparedness Programs Oversees:– Regional Offices (Regions I – IV)– Office of New Reactors– Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response– Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

• Responsible for ensuring public health and safety through licensing and inspection activities

• Includes licensing of operators; emergency preparedness; facility security (including fitness for duty); inspection of component suppliers; licensing and renewal of operating licenses

NRC Structure Continued

• Office for Materials, Waste, Research, State, Tribal and Compliance Program

Oversees:– Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

• Conducts own research and coordinates research with others (universities, those in the nuclear industry)

• Studies risk– Office of Enforcement– Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

• Develops and implements NRC policy for regulation of activities involving use and handling of radioactive materials, including the fuel itself, its transportation, and waste

– Office of Investigations– Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental

Management Programs

NRC Structure Continued

• Office for Corporate Management Oversees:– Office of Information Services– Office of Administration– Computer Security Office

NRC Structure Continued

• Direct Reports to the NRC Commission– Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards– Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel

• Composed of administrative judges including lawyers, physicists, engineers, and environmental scientists

• Conduct hearings for the Commission– Office of Commission Appellate Adjudication

• Court of appeals

Next Time…

• NRC Enforcement• CFRs for the Nuclear Power Industry