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NRC approves TerraPower construction permit
Today, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced that it has approved TerraPower’s construction permit application for Kemmerer Unit 1, the company’s first deployment of Natrium, its flagship sodium fast reactor.
This approval is a significant milestone on three fronts. For TerraPower, it represents another step forward in demonstrating its technology. For the Department of Energy, it reflects progress (despite delays) for the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). For the NRC, it is the first approval granted to a commercial reactor in nearly a decade—and the first approval of a commercial non–light water reactor in more than 40 years.
Stanley Rosen, Richard D. Ivany, John F. Kapinos, Suk K. Sim
Nuclear Technology | Volume 91 | Number 1 | July 1990 | Pages 89-94
Technical Paper | Safety of Next Generation Power Reactor / Nuclear Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT90-A34444
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Combustion Engineering’s advanced light water reactor, System 80+, is an evolutionary upgrade of the proven System 80® nuclear steam supply system design. While both plants are rated at 3817 MW(thermal), System 80+ incorporates a number of design enhancements, including direct vessel injection for the safety injection (SI) system and other changes to the reactor cooling system. The results of a best-estimate small-break loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) study that addresses utility investment protection concerns is presented. Specifically, the size piping break that can be tolerated without the liquid or two-phase fluid level falling below the top of the active core is addressed. Using best-estimate analytical procedures, and assuming no single failure, the active core remains covered with substantial margin for breaks up to 0.254-m (10-in.) diameter. This reduces the possibility of core damage due to a small LOCA. A large-break, cold-leg LOCA licensing analysis is also presented that addresses the reflood capability after the end of SI tank discharge without credit for a low-pressure SI pump system. This analysis confirms that the improved high-pressure SI system provides adequate reflood capability to satisfy the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission LOCA licensing criteria.