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2025 ANS Annual Conference
June 15–18, 2025
Chicago, IL|Chicago Marriott Downtown
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Smarter waste strategies: Helping deliver on the promise of advanced nuclear
At COP28, held in Dubai in 2023, a clear consensus emerged: Nuclear energy must be a cornerstone of the global clean energy transition. With electricity demand projected to soar as we decarbonize not just power but also industry, transport, and heat, the case for new nuclear is compelling. More than 20 countries committed to tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050. In the United States alone, the Department of Energy forecasts that the country’s current nuclear capacity could more than triple, adding 200 GW of new nuclear to the existing 95 GW by mid-century.
Educational Session|Panel|Sponsored by Risk Management
Tuesday, August 11, 2020|12:00–1:30PM EDT
Session Organizer:
Gene Kelly (Exelon)
Track Organizer:
Timothy Crook (MCR Group)
Knowledge Manager:
Robby Christian (INL)
There are substantial benefits and good reasons for incorporating and crediting FLEX equipment in industry PRA models, for all hazard types (not just seismic and external flooding). Reactor safety is improved by allowing operators the flexibility to use FLEX in a variety of scenarios - not just in beyond design basis external event scenarios, which are the subject of the previously issued Mitigation Strategies under Order EA-12-049. The benefits of crediting FLEX - both in procedures and in PRA models, and for risk applications (such as RICT and SDP cases) - outweigh any potential regulatory uncertainties. The NRC’s recent enforcement policy found in Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 0609 Appendix A was recently reconsidered for FLEX equipment deficiencies, both in how these are screened, and in how the cases would be quantified (i.e., which hazard models are used) when performing more detailed significance analysis. FLEX component reliabilities and associated deployment actions (HRA) are evolving and being closely studied and evaluated by industry and the NRC. In the meantime, our models should reasonably reflect the as-built/as-operated plant, as required by the ASME Standard and Regulatory Guide 1.200. The option to deploy FLEX strategies is an important defense in depth measure in any/all scenarios when an extended loss of power is present, and is an improvement in reactor safety. It’s acknowledgement in PRA models should not be discouraged or unduly challenged.
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Reference — FLEX Speaker Bios
Session Notes
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