TerraPower’s Molten Chloride Fast Reactor...

TerraPower’s Molten Chloride Fast Reactor

ProgramAugust 7, 2017

ANS Utility Conference

Molten Salt ReactorFeatures & Options

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Key Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) Distinguishing Features

• Rather than using solid fuel, MSRs useliquid salt fuel.

• The liquid fuel flows through the core andthe heat exchangers.

• Hot salt rises: drives natural convectionto remove decay heat.

• Hot salt expands: this passively shuts down the reactor if cooling is lost, even without control rods.

Copyright© 2017 TerraPower, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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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.


TerraPower focus upon five key aspects for advanced nuclear

5Copyright© 2017 TerraPower, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

MCFR technology has many featuresthat will improve economics

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• Low-pressure = lighter structures & piping.

• Salt synthesis cheaper than fabrication.

• Refueling during operation.

• After startup, no added fissile material.

• High efficiency, open non-electric (high-value) products.

Cost ↓

Revenue ↑

Avail.↑

Cost ↓

Cost ↓


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

INNOVATION MCFR

TERRAPOWER PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL – SUBJECT TO CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

Abstract This Report details the pre -conceptual design, systems model ing and cost

estimation for the TerraPower Molten Chlor ide Fast Reactor (MCFR). Design Criter ia, general plant and subsystem requirements are presented

as part of the pre-conceptual design process. Using these criter ia and requirements, a set of MCFR plant concepts are described and with

detailed cost est imates for each design.

Costing study completed with Southern Company:

– 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.

Superior Safety

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• 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.

Greatly Reduced Waste

Higher Barriers to Proliferation

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• Reduced need for enrichment plants.

• Without reprocessing, reduced risk of diversion.

• Actinides stay in core or closely-coupled 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).

A More Competitive Marketplace

Development and Testing

All elements of the MCFR program are informed and driven by successors

MCFR Integrated Effects Test (IET)

• Prototype Reactor intended to be same physical size and mirror operations of Commercial Reactor / serve as stepping stone

• Test Reactor provides necessary data for licensing & operational experience

• Integrated Effects Test (IET), in turn,provides data needed to licensethe Test Reactor

Prototype Reactor400-600 MW

Class 103 license

Test Reactor30 MW

Class 104 license

Commercial Reactor1500-2500 MWClass 103 license


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


There is a pathway to license the MCFR Test and Commercial Prototype Reactors


• Test Reactor:– Testing facility as defined in 10 CFR 170.3 [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

Our philosophy requires us to get into the laboratory, make mistakes, and accelerate progress

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• 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


TerraPower’s capabilities position it for success


Radiochemistry infrastructure will be crucial to ultimate success.

After reduction to practice, procured microloops from vendor

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• Constructed from variety of candidate alloys.

• Operate at coolant salt temperatures of 480-610°C.

• Fuel salt microloops coming soon.


We will build and operate

dozens of microloops over

the next 2-3 years

We will field progressively larger & more complex flow loops


6 feetExpansion Tank with Level Sensor

Pump

Process Heater (200 kW)

Flush and Primary Salt Tanks

Air-Cooled Heat Rejection

Molybdenum pump under procurement (Q1 2018)

Isothermal flow loop under procurement

(Q3 2017)

Polythermal flow loops in conceptual design (coolant inQ4 2017, fuel salt in Q1 2018)

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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 2019.

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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


Summary

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• 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 2030.


Acknowledgements

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This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy under Award Number DE-NE0008473. 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.


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