Overview of the Office of Nuclear Energy’s

Fuel Cycle Technologies Program

John Herczeg

Office of Nuclear Energy

U.S. Department of Energy

DOE- Intergovernmental Meeting

November 13, 2014

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NE-5 Organization Structure

NE-5Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fuel Cycle

Technologies: John HerczegAssociate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fuel

Cycle Technologies : Andrew Griffith

• Used Fuel Storage and Transportation R&D

• Used Fuel Disposal R&D

• Advanced Fuels • Materials Protection,

Accounting, and Control Technology

Dave Henderson

NE-52Fuel Cycle Research and Development

Bill Boyle

NE-53Used Nuclear Fuel Disposition Research and Development

Patricia Paviet

NE-51Systems EngineeringAnd Integration

Robert George

NE-54Uranium Management andPolicy

Jeff Williams

NE-5Nuclear Fuel Storage and Transportation Planning Project

• Material Recovery and Waste Form Development

• System Analysis and Integration

• Fuel Resources

• Uranium Policy and market analysis

• Integrated Waste Mgmt. System

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Fuel Cycle Research and

Development’s Mission

NE

FCR&D

The mission of the Fuel Cycle Research and Development program is to:

conduct generic research and development (R&D) and generic non-R&D activities related to used nuclear fuel (UNF), nuclear waste management and disposal issues;

conduct R&D on advanced sustainable fuel cycle technologies that have the potential to improve resource utilization and energy generation, reduce waste generation, enhance safety, and limit proliferation risk; and

lay the ground work and planning for the implementation of the Administration’s Strategy for the Management and Disposal of Used Nuclear Fuel and High Level Radioactive Waste.

The program employs a long-term, science-based approach to foster innovative, transformational technology solutions to achieve this mission. Advancements in fuel cycle technologies and solutions support the enhanced availability, affordability, safety, and security of nuclear-generated electricity in the U.S.

Fuel Cycle Research and Development

FY 2015 Planned Funding by Campaign

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Campaign

Funding ($1,000s)

NotesFY 2014 FY 2015

Advanced Fuels 43,115 38,000Advanced LWR fuels, metallic transmutation fuels,

crosscutting capability development

Material Recovery & Waste

Form Development18,000 18,300 Aqueous, electrochemical, waste forms, off-gas technologies

Fuel Cycle Options 8,900 8,300 Evaluation and screening, analyses, fuel cycle catalog

Joint Fuel Cycle Studies 6,950 7,000 US-ROK collaboration on electrochemical reprocessing

MPACT 5,000 5,400 Material protection, accounting, and control technologies

Fuel Resources 4,600 4,600 Uranium from seawater

Nuclear Fuel Storage & Trans. 24,950 34,700Laying the groundwork for the Administration’s Strategy for the

Management and Disposal of UNF and HLW

Used Nuclear Fuel R&D 24,700 28,600Exploring generic disposal concepts, developing the technical

basis for extended storage and transportation

NEUP 30,200 25,630Competitive awards to universities, supporting all of the

technical campaigns

Headquarters-Directed Activities 11,585 11,400 Special projects, support services, management reserve

SBIR/STTR 5,000 4,850Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business

Technology Transfer

Program Assess. &

Coordination3,500 2,320 Project management, program support

Total 186,500 189,100

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Key Elements of theAdministration’s Strategy

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Strategy for the Management and Disposal of Used Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste

Future facilities would be sited using a consent-based process and licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Pilot-scale interim storage facility

Operational in 2021

Consolidated interim storage facility

Operational in 2025

Geologic Repository

Sited using consent-based process by 2026

Designed and licensed by 2042

Operational in 2048

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NE’s Used Nuclear Fuel Programs

Nuclear Fuels Storage and Transportation Planning Project – Lay the groundwork for implementing interim storage, including associated transportation, per the Administration’s Strategy for the Management and Disposal of Used Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste, and develop a foundation for a new nuclear waste management organization.

Used Nuclear Fuel Disposition R&D Campaign – Identify alternatives and conduct scientific research and technology development to enable storage, transportation and disposal of used nuclear fuel and wastes generated by existing and future nuclear fuel cycles.

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Evaluating interim storage design concepts,

with input from industry contractors Recently initiated new Task “Generic Design Alternatives

for Dry Storage of Used Nuclear Fuel”

Preparing facility functions and requirements

Evaluated costs and impacts of opening non-

disposable storage canisters

Developing data on alternative generic

design concepts for receiving, storing,

handling, and repackaging UNF canisters

to support systems analyses

BRC recommendation:

“Perform systems analyses and

design studies needed to develop a

conceptual design for a spent fuel

storage facility”

Laying the Groundwork forConsolidated Interim Storage

Intergovt. Meeting Nov. 2014

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Collaborating with stakeholders through State Regional Groups (SRG) and tribal representatives

Revised NWPA 180(c) policy

National Transportation Plan

Routing options

Planning for design, testing, and acquisition of rail cars and transportation casks

Assessing needs and developing plan for removing UNF from shutdown reactor sites

Developing new routing capabilities and investigating routing options from shutdown reactor sites

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BRC recommendation:

“Complete development of procedures and

regulations for providing technical

assistance, funding, and training

to local groups in preparation for movement

of spent fuel”

Preparing for the Large-ScaleTransportation of UNF and HLW

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National Transportation PlanOverview and Work Scope

Prepare a draft NTP in a collaborative effort with stakeholders

Focuses on the goals of the Blue Ribbon Commission recommendations and the Administration’s Strategy

Addresses the NAS recommendations related to transportation of UNF

Integrates with technical activities

Is consistent with DOE transportation policy, guidance, and prior shipping experience (including Waste Isolation Pilot Plant and Foreign Research Reactor Fuel campaigns)

Considers stakeholder comments on prior DOE NTPs

Inform interested parties about the planning process and activities to be completed in order to ship SNF from reactor sites

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Stakeholder Tool for AssessingRadioactive Transportation (START)

Cover the entire continental U.S.

Represent physical and operating characteristics of freight surface transportation modes

Highway

Rail

Barge

Include relevant proximate features (e.g., tribal lands, emergency responders, schools, environmentally-sensitive land use)

Flexible, modular system architecture to support functionality, feature and data updates

Leverage geographic information systems (GIS) technology

Support users via web-based application with secure internet access

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Nuclear Waste Policy Act Section 180(c) Mandate

“The Secretary shall provide technical assistance and funds to States for training for public safety officials of appropriate units of local government and Indian tribes through whose jurisdiction the Secretary plans to transport spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste [to an NWPA-authorized facility].”

Training shall cover procedures for safe routine transportation of these materials and procedures for dealing with emergency response situations

Covers all modes of transport (train, truck and barge)

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Preliminary Evaluation of Removing Used Nuclear Fuel from Shutdown Sites

Collected and documented currently available information relevant to de-inventory shutdown sites

Identified alternatives for transporting UNF from the sites

Next steps

• Develop detailed de-inventory plans for each site

• Complete and add information related to recent shutdown sites

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Transportation System Development Future Tasks Prior to Shipment

Institutional Activities Continue work with SRGs and Tribes, National Transportation Stakeholder

Forum, other groups

Develop communications plans and materials

Identify training needs and materials necessary for technical support and for development of modules that specifically address UNF shipments

Conduct Section 180(c) pilot or evaluation program, finalize policy and fund States and Tribes for training

Work with States, Tribes and carriers to refine route planning process

Work with Stakeholders on operational activities

Assess vehicle inspection standards and processes for all transport modes

Tabletop reviews of initial routes with States, Tribes, SRGs, carriers and logistics companies

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Used Nuclear Fuel DispositionExtended Storage & Transportation R&D

• Develop the technical bases to demonstrate used fuel integrity for extended storage periods

• Develop technical bases for fuel retrievability and transportation after long term storage

• Develop technical basis for transportation of high burn-up fuel

Better understand potential degradation mechanisms in long term dry cask storage including:

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The Cask Storage Demonstration contract was awarded to the EPRI Team to evaluate extended storage of high burnup used nuclear fuel:

Used Nuclear Fuel Disposition Cask Storage Demonstration R&D

•North Anna Nuclear Power Plant

AREVA Federal ServicesAREVA TransnuclearAREVA Fuels

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Used Nuclear Fuel Disposition Disposal R&D

Provide a sound technical basis for the assertion that the U.S. has multiple viable disposal options

Increase confidence in the robustness of generic disposal concepts

Evaluate the BRC recommendation for developing a near term plan for taking the borehole disposal concept to the point of a demonstration

Evaluate the technical feasibility of the direct disposal of existing storage and transportation canisters

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Deep Borehole Field Test

Objectives Demonstrate the feasibility of characterizing and

engineering deep boreholes

Demonstrate processes and operations for safe waste emplacement in deep boreholes

Confirm geologic controls over waste stability in a deep geologic environment

Demonstrate safety and practicality of deep borehole disposal concept

Disposal concept consists of drilling a borehole or array of boreholes into crystalline basement rock to ~5000m depth

DOE issued a Request for Information to solicit input from stakeholders willing to host a deep borehole field test

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Accident Tolerant Fuels Became a Major Focus Area after Fukushima

Goal: By 2022, develop and test, in an existing LWR, an advanced fuel rod which tolerates loss of active cooling in the core for considerably longer time period than existing fuel.

Objectives:

Significantly reduce or eliminate hydrogen generation

Reduce spent fuel volume through increased burnup

Reduce Fuel Pin Failures & Increased reliability

Improve Economics & Permit Power Upgrades

Congressional Direction:

The Fukushima (March 2011) accident led the U.S. Congress to direct the DOE to focus efforts on development of fuels with enhanced accident tolerance.

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High temperatureduring loss of active

cooling

Slower Hydrogen Generation Rate• Hydrogen bubble• Hydrogen explosion• Hydrogen embrittlement of the

clad

Improved Cladding Properties

• Clad fracture• Geometric stability • Thermal shock resistance• Melting of the cladding

Improved Fuel Properties • Lower operating temps• Clad internal oxidation• Fuel relocation/dispersion• Fuel melting

Enhanced Retention of Fission Products• Gaseous fission products• Solid/liquid fission products

Improved Reaction Kinetics with Steam• Heat of oxidation• Oxidation rate

Behaviors of Accident Tolerant Fuels &Fuel and Cladding at High Temperatures