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Nuclear 101 Introduction to Nuclear Technology

GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy. Nuclear 101 Introduction to Nuclear Technology. John F. Zino Engineering Manager Stability & Radiological Nuclear Analysis COE GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Wilmington, NC 28402 GEWN Meeting June 3, 2010. Nuclear 101. Brief History of Nuclear Industry

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Nuclear 101 Introduction to Nuclear Technology

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  1. GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Nuclear 101Introduction toNuclear Technology John F. Zino Engineering Manager Stability & Radiological Nuclear Analysis COE GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Wilmington, NC 28402 GEWN Meeting June 3, 2010

  2. Nuclear 101 • Brief History of Nuclear Industry • The Nuclear Fuel Cycle • Fundamentals of Nuclear Technology • Fuel Cycle Nuclear Safety Events “In science, things should be made as simple as possible – but no simpler.” - Albert Einstein

  3. A Brief History of the Nuclear Industry

  4. A Brief History of the Nuclear Industry 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 • 1933 • The idea of chain reaction via neutron was proposed by Leó Szilárd. • Patent applied for a simple nuclear reactor in 1934. • Leó Szilárd initiated a letter signed by Albert Einstein to President Roosevelt regarding the potential uses of Uranium.

  5. A Brief History of the Nuclear Industry 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 • 1938 • Nuclear fission proven using Uranium bombarded by “neutron howitzer” • Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann succeeded in identifying fission fragments in a sample of Uranium that had been exposed to Neutrons.

  6. A Brief History of the Nuclear Industry 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 • 1942 • Chicago Pile 1 Sustains Chain Reaction (first artificial reactor) led by Enrico Fermi.

  7. A Brief History of the Nuclear Industry 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 • 1946 • US Atomic Energy Commission Established to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology.

  8. A Brief History of the Nuclear Industry 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 • 1951 • EBR-1 the worlds first nuclear power plant generates 100 kw (rated for 200 kw).

  9. A Brief History of the Nuclear Industry 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 • 1954 • Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant in the Soviet Union went on line. This was the first nuclear power station built for civil purposes, It produced around 5 MW (electrical).

  10. A Brief History of the Nuclear Industry 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 • 1955 • USS Nautilus launched.

  11. A Brief History of the Nuclear Industry 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 • 1957 • Shippingport Atomic Power station (first commercial US reactor) on line. • This plant was capable of generating 60 Mw(e).

  12. A Brief History of the Nuclear Industry 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 • 1960’s to 1980’s • Boom years for nuclear construction generation capability rose from less than 1 Gw to over 100 Gw.

  13. A Brief History of the Nuclear Industry 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 • 1974 • Energy Reorganization Act signed, AEC divided into DOE and NRC.

  14. A Brief History of the Nuclear Industry 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 • 1979 • TMI Unit 2 experienced partial core meltdown.

  15. A Brief History of the Nuclear Industry 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 • 1979 • INPO formed following TMI accident.

  16. A Brief History of the Nuclear Industry 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 • 1986 • Reactor #4 in the Chernobyl complex experienced a power excursion that resulted in a steam and chemical explosion.

  17. A Brief History of the Nuclear Industry 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 • 1999 • Criticality accident at JCO facility in Japan.

  18. A Brief History of the Nuclear Industry 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 • 2002 • Davis Besse head degradation identified. Plant shut down for two years for repair.

  19. The Nuclear Fuel Cycle

  20. Uranium • Two principal isotopes of Uranium are: • U-235 • U-238 • Both have 92 protons • Differ in # of neutrons (3) • Uranium (natural): • U-235 (~1%) • U-238 (~99%) • Uranium: • Actinide element • Heavy metal (~19 g/cc) • Radioactive (emits radiation) • Carcinogenic • Fissile (undergoes fission) • Uranium (enriched): • U-235 (~5%) • U-238 (~95%)

  21. Isotopes # Protons # Neutrons

  22. Where Does Uranium Come From ?

  23. GLE scope GNF scope Fuel Cycle scope Out of scope Nuclear Fuel Cycle • Fuel fabrication • BWR Fresh Fuel • BWR RU Fuel • CANDU Fuel • MOX Fuel Nuclear plant operation Re-conversion to UO2 powder Spent fuel storage Core design Fuel design Spent fuel reprocessing (Advanced technologies) UF6 enrichment UF6 enrichment Conversion to UF6 gas Uranium mining

  24. Uranium Mine Types Underground Uranium Mine Open Pit Uranium Mine

  25. Natural Enriched Uranium (< 1% U-235)

  26. Enrichment Evolution • Marketplace outlook: • Supply short beginning 2013-2015 • Aging technology exiting • New capacity deployment issues Evolution of Technology Gaseous Diffusion Centrifuge • Strategic partnerships: • SILEX license rights acquired in 2006 • Joint venture with Hitachi & Cameco • Positions Global Laser Enrichment at front end of the fuel cycle Laser Lower Cost

  27. Enriched Fuel Production Enriched UF6 gas

  28. Fundamentals of Nuclear Technology

  29. The Nuclear Steam Cycle

  30. Core Recirculation Flow Path Nuclear Fuel Inside Reactor Core (Uranium)

  31. Fission in Uranium Fission Chain Reaction Fission Neutrons emitted from fission with high energy; must be slowed down to cause more fissions Fission Radiation Moderation* (slowing down) Fission Radiation Neutron Fission Fission Fragments Uranium *Water is a good moderator

  32. Chemical vs. Nuclear • Chemical Heat Source • Combustion of hydrocarbons • Chemical reaction • Occurs outside the nucleus • Ignition source needed • Shutdown by removing ignition source • Nuclear Heat Source • Splitting of uranium atoms • Nuclear reaction • Occurs inside the nucleus • No ignition source needed • Shutdown by removing neutrons (n) from process 235U + n 144Ba + 90Kr + 2n + Energy CHx + O2 H2O + CO2 + Energy ~1010 cal per gram of fuel consumed ~104 cal per gram of fuel consumed

  33. Uranium Dioxide (UO2) • Uranium used in nuclear fuel is in the form of uranium dioxide (UO2): • Ceramic material • High thermal conductivity • Good mechanical properties • Interstitial void spaces in ceramic allows room for fission product gases to collect and be trapped Pellets ~ 10-11 g/cc Powder ~ 2-4 g/cc

  34. Nuclear Fuel Bundle UO2 is contained in a fuel pellet Fuel rods are assembledinto fuel bundles Pellets are loadedinto fuel rods Fuel pellet ~ 10 g Fuel rod contains ~ 350 pellets Fuel bundle contains ~ 100 rods

  35. Reactor Core Reactor core contains: ~750 bundles or ~70,000 rods or ~25 MM pellets

  36. Reactor Core Lattice Fuel Lattice Characteristics: • Fuel pins arranged on a square pitch (~ 1 cm) • Bundles arranged on a square pitch (6 in.) • Water between fuel pins • Water between bundles • Local Power Range Monitor Detectors • Control Rod Blades Fission neutrons emitted from one fuel pin travel through the water moderator, slow down and cause fission in other fuels pins Neutrons from fission can travel several inches to several feet in the reactor lattice

  37. Control Blades The primary way to control the fission process is by removing neutrons from the reactor core thereby making them less available to continue the fission process. Bottom Entry Control blades containing Boron are inserted in between fuel bundles and are used to control the nuclear fission process.

  38. Void/Temperature Effect A second way to control the fission process is through Void/Temperature Feedback: • As fuel temperature increases, circulating water is heated and begins to boil • Boiling water has a lower effective water density • Lower water density reduces neutron moderation (not as much slowing down of neutrons) • Reduction in neutron moderation reduces fission process • Reduction in fission process decreases fuel energy release • Fuel temperature decreases! Void/Temperature Feedback Mechanism Makes Boiling Water Reactors Inherently Safe to Operate

  39. BWR Power/Flow Control During plant start-up, control blades removed, fission rate increases, power increases. Blades removed until neutron population reaches steady-state condition. During power ascension, regulate core recirculation flow to increase/decrease power level as needed.

  40. GE BWR History 1969-1970 Late 1950’s 1963-1969 1971-1973 1972-1990 1978-1994 1981-1987 1996-1997 2010 >

  41. Lower system pressure (1000 psig) • Direct steam feed to turbine • High system pressure (3000 psig) • Separate secondary system

  42. Nuclear Factoids… Typical BWR: • Fuel cycle 12-24 months in length • 650-800 bundles in core (~150 tons of uranium!) • 3500-4500 Mw(th) • Re-fuel ~ 1/3 to 1/2 of the core each shutdown • Re-license with NRC each time fuel is changed • 443 operating reactors world-wide • 91 based on GE design • 103 operating reactors in the U.S. • 34 based on GE design • ~20% U.S. electrical generating capacity

  43. *But What About The Waste? • Storage in pools or above ground in dry casks • Waste well contained in fuel rods • Spontaneously decays • Initial toxicity decreases rapidly • Few meters of earth stops the radiation • Spent fuel can be reprocessed • The volume of waste is small *Larry Foulke, “The World’s Energy Future and the Role of Nuclear Power”, Wilmington Area Local ANS Section Meeting, Oct. 22, 2008.

  44. Waste Volume Comparison *Selected U.S. Annual Waste Generation Comparisons(Ref: Heaberlin, A Case for Nuclear Generated Electricity, Battelle Press, 2004)

  45. Addressing Spent Fuel Concerns Integrated Facility: • Passively safe advanced PRISM reactor…generates electricity • Cost Competitive • Closes Fuel Cycle • Creates Useful Uranium • Modular and scalable • Proliferation resistant • Ready for commercial development Advanced Recycling Reactor Nuclear Fuel Recycling Facility

  46. Fuel Cycle Nuclear Safety Events

  47. Uncontrolled Chain Reaction • Serious consequences of not controlling chain reaction • Characterized by a release of: • Large amounts of ionizing radiation • Large amount of energy (heat) • Energy release can rupture tanks, vessels or equipment • Radiation levels would kill workers in immediate area • Significant contamination to facility • Release of radioactive gases to environment • To date there have been 22 process related accidents: • 19 occurred from 1945 - 1978 • 1 from 1979 – 1996 • 2 since 1997 • Last accident in the U.S. was in 1978 at Idaho Chemical Processing Plant

  48. JCO Facility • Sumitomo Metal and Mining Company • Plant in located in Tokaimura, Japan • Fabrication facility (<5% wt.% U-235) • Conversion facility (<20% wt.% U-235) • Produce UO2 from UF6 or scrap U ore • Fuel for JOYO fast reactor program

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