Advanced Metallic Fuel Technology for Power Uprates … Malone.pdf · Advanced Metallic Fuel...
Transcript of Advanced Metallic Fuel Technology for Power Uprates … Malone.pdf · Advanced Metallic Fuel...
® Nuclear Power Asia
15-16 January 2013, Kuala Lumpur
James P. Malone
Chief Nuclear Fuel Development Officer
®
Advanced Metallic Fuel
Technology for Power Uprates
and Longer Fuel Cycles
Nuclear Power Asia
15-16 January, 2013
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Nuclear Power Asia
15-16 January 2013, Kuala Lumpur ® 2
Lightbridge Corporation – Business Segments
Fuel Technology Business
Advisory Services Business
Nuclear Regulation
• Leading regulatory
team from
international
agencies
• Advisory services on
design, development
and management of
nuclear energy
programs according
to highest standards
Nuclear Generation
• Industry leading team
from international
technology & fuel
suppliers, utilities, and
government agencies
• Provide strategies
with comprehensive
plans for new or
expanding nuclear
programs
Thorium-based
Seed & Blanket Design
• Thorium-based,
enhanced
proliferation resistant
nuclear fuel design
• Addresses key
concerns of
proliferation, waste
reduction and fuel
supply
All-Uranium Seed &
Blanket Fuel
• 10-17% power
uprate and longer
fuel cycles in
existing PWRs
• Key Safety
Improvements vs.
existing designs
All-Metal Fuel
• 30% or greater
power uprate in
new build LWRs
• Key Safety
Improvements vs.
existing designs
Nuclear Power Asia
15-16 January 2013, Kuala Lumpur ® 3
Lightbridge Advisory Services
Project
Feasibility
Detailed
Planning National Infrastructure &
Organizational Development
Procurement, Licensing, & Construction Operations
Nuclear
Power
Deployment
Lightbridge
Generation
Services
Lightbridge
Regulatory
Services
Deployment
Strategy
Development
& Planning
Feasibility
Studies &
Economic
Analyses
Program
Management &
Technical
Support
Business
Systems
Performance
Analysis
Development and
Implementation of
National Nuclear
Regulatory Programs
Assist in Setup &
Regulation
Development
Ongoing Assistance for
a Fully-Operational
Regulatory Authority
Nuclear Power Asia
15-16 January 2013, Kuala Lumpur ® 4
Advisory Services
• Lightbridge milestones and experience in
new nuclear programs
– Lightbridge lead consultant for the
United Arab Emirates & Kuwait
– Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) 6
nations
• Lightbridge selected to explore
areas of mutual civil nuclear
cooperation.
• Lightbridge competencies in both nuclear
generation build and regulatory advisory
services.
Lightbridge – Leading Advisor To Emerging Nuclear Programs
Nuclear Power Asia
15-16 January 2013, Kuala Lumpur ® 6
Industry Trends in Global Nuclear Markets
Power Uprates And Longer Fuel Cycles Improve The Economics Of
Nuclear Power
• The growth of nuclear new-build is facing major obstacles that need to be
addressed:
– Lower cost of natural gas
– Significant upfront capital expenditures
– Public perception of nuclear safety
– Used fuel disposition
• Power uprates and longer fuel cycles have become a favored industry
option:
– Months to deploy
– Efficient use of capital - overnight cost of under US $1,200 per kW
Nuclear Power Asia
15-16 January 2013, Kuala Lumpur ® 7
Improving the Competitiveness of Nuclear Energy
Levelized Costs1 (US$/MWh)
Environmental (CO2 lbs/MWh)
10% uprate with
Lightbridge metallic
fuel2
Coal Natural
Gas
Wind
Solar
Nuclear
200
150
100
50
250
1. Levelized Cost of Electricity for new generation sources in 2015.
Source EIA “Annual Energy Outlook 2011” and EPRI “Program on Technology Innovation”
2. Operating nuclear power plant uprate with Lightbridge fuel can provide approximately 35 US$/MWh electricity generation costs
0 1,200 2,500
Nuclear Power Asia
15-16 January 2013, Kuala Lumpur ® 8
Nuclear Utility Fuel Advisory Board
• In 2012 Lightbridge formed the Nuclear Utility Fuel Advisory Board
(NUFAB) composed of leading nuclear utilities. The objective and
purpose of the board is to further strengthen dialogue with global
nuclear utilities and provide their input into Lightbridge's nuclear fuel
development and commercialization efforts.
• The initial members of NUFAB include fuel managers from Exelon
Generation Co., Dominion, Duke Energy, and Southern Company.
• Account for 44% of installed US nuclear capacity.
Nuclear Power Asia
15-16 January 2013, Kuala Lumpur ® 9
Evolutionary LWR Fuel Design
Lightbridge’s metallic fuel is derived from
the Russian maritime reactor fuel:
• Uranium-zirconium fuel composition
• High power density
• Ability to withstand high burn-ups in water
cooled reactor
Nuclear Power Asia
15-16 January 2013, Kuala Lumpur ® 10
Lightbridge Metallic Fuel Rod Overview
Cladding
Fuel Core
Displacer • Three-component fuel rod:
– Zr-U Alloy fuel core
– Displacer reduces centerline temperature
and allows for incorporation of burnable
poisons
– Cladding is metallurgically-bonded to fuel
core, no plenum or gas gap
• Helical cruciform geometry
– Increased surface area for heat transfer
– 100% compatible with existing LWRs
• Solid metallic rod
– High thermal conductivity
– Robust fuel rod
Nuclear Power Asia
15-16 January 2013, Kuala Lumpur ® 11
Lightbridge’s Advanced Fuels -Key Fuel Cycle Benefits
Improved Plant
Economics
• Increased revenue and improved operating margins of
existing nuclear power plants
• Reduced total levelized cost per kilowatt-hour for new build
reactors
Increased
Power Output
from Plant
• 10-17% power uprate and longer fuel cycles for existing
PWRs
• Up to 30% power uprate for new build PWRs
• Applicable to BWRs and light water-based SMRs
• Fuel enables the supply chain to deliver more power from the
same capacity
Increased
Supply Chain
Efficiency
• Reduced volume of spent fuel per kWh
• Enhanced proliferation resistance of spent fuel
Improved Spent
Fuel
Management
Nuclear Power Asia
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Lower
Operating
Temperature
• Average operating temperature of ~ 370 oC, i.e. “cold fuel”; ~
1000 oC cooler than conventional fuels
• Reduces the amount of sensible heat that must be removed at
reactor shutdown
• Improves fission product retention and mitigates fuel swelling
Increased
Heat Transfer
• Higher thermal conductivity improves the rate at which heat
from the fuel can be transferred to the coolant
• Increased fuel rod surface area (~35-40% greater) provides
increased safety margin
• Improved coolant mixing due to helical twist
• Metallurgical bonding of fuel to cladding improves strength
• Fuel rod integrity substantially reduces radioactive source term
in the event of cladding breach
Improved Fuel
Rod Integrity
Lightbridge’s Advanced Fuels -Key Safety Benefits
Nuclear Power Asia
15-16 January 2013, Kuala Lumpur ® 13
Fuel
Product
Potential
Markets Key Attributes
Existing
Plants
New
Plants Power Uprate
Fuel Cycle
Length
Spent Fuel
Reduction
(per kWh)
10% Uprate Up to10% 24 months Up to 9%
17% Uprate Up to 17% 18 months Up to 16%
30% Uprate Up to 30% 18 months Up to 25%
Lightbridge’s Power Uprate Fuels
Lightbridge’s Advanced Metallic Fuels Enhance The Business Case For
Nuclear Power
Nuclear Power Asia
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Fuel Development & Deployment Timeline
2017 2016 2018 2019 2013 2012 2014 2015 2020
Demonstrate
Full-Length Rod
Fabrication
Complete Test
Reactor
Irradiations
Begin Lead Test
Assembly (LTA)
Operation
Reload Core
Design
Begin Test
Reactor
Irradiation
Experiments
and Detailed
Design
Complete
Regulatory
Licensing of Lead
Test Assemblies
Complete 1st
Cycle of LTA
Operation
Complete 2nd
Cycle of LTA
Operation
2021
Begin Reload
Batch
Operation
Nuclear Power Asia
15-16 January 2013, Kuala Lumpur ® 16
Summary
• Power uprates enhance the competitiveness of nuclear power
– Up to 17% increase in existing plants
– Up to 30% in new construction
– Applicable to PWRs, BWRs, and other water cooled reactors
• Lightbridge will continue to build the technical basis for the all-metal fuel
– Demonstration experiments in test facilities to prove fuel behavior
– Lead Test Assembly program to build on results of experiments and tests
– Regulatory review & approval
• Industry-leading advisory service team with substantial international
experience and demonstrated success
Lightbridge – Next Generation Nuclear Fuels