IAEA IAEAInternational Atomic Energy Agency

Nuclear Innovation in ActionSmall Modular Reactors (SMRs)

David ShropshireIAEA Planning and Economic Studies

Connecting Roadmaps for Innovative Nuclear Energy to the NDC Timeline (COP23 Side IETA Pavilion)

8 November, 2017

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Topics

• What are SMRs?• Prospects and Challenges• Roadmaps for Deployment

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SMR: defined and rationale for use

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Advanced Reactors to produce up to 300 MW(e), built in factories and transported as modules to sites for installation as demand arises.

Economic• Lower Upfront capital cost• Economy of serial production

Better Affordability

Modularization• Multi-module• Modular Construction

Shorter construction time

Flexible Application• Remote regions• Small grids

Wider range of Users

Smaller footprintSite flexibility

Replacement for aging fossil-fired plants Reduced CO2 production

Potential Hybrid Energy System Integration with Renewables

• Reduced Emergency planning zone

A nuclear option to meet the need for flexible power generation for wider range of users and applications

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Water cooled SMRs (Examples)

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Marine-based SMRs (Examples)KLT-40S FLEXBLUE

FPU and Fixed Platform

Compact-loop PWR• 60 MW(e) / 200 MW(th)• Core Outlet Temp.: 322oC• Fuel Enrichment: < 5%• FPU for cogeneration• Once through SG, passive

safety features• Fuel cycle: 30 months• To be moored to coastal or

offshore facilities• Completion of conceptual

design programme

Transportable, immersed nuclear power plant

PWR for Naval application

• 160 MW(e) / 530 MW(th)• Core Outlet Temp.: 318oC• Fuel Enrichment 4.95%• Fuel Cycle: 38 months• passive safety features• Transportable NPP,

submerged operation• Up to 6 module per on shore

main control room

Floating Power Units (FPU)

Compact-loop PWR• 35 MW(e) / 150 MW(th)• Core Outlet Temp.: 316oC• Fuel Enrichment: 18.6%• FPU for cogeneration• Without Onsite Refuelling• Fuel cycle: 36 months• Spent fuel take back• Advanced stage of

construction, planned commercial start:2019 – 2020

ACPR50S

Transportable, immersed NPP

Integral-PWR• 6.4 MW(e) / 28 MW(th)• 40,000 hours continuous operation

period• Fuel Enrichment: < 30%• Combined active and passive

safety features• Power source for users in remote

and hard-to-reach locations;• Can be used for both floating and

submerged NPPs

SHELF

Images reproduced courtesy of OKBM Afrikantov, CGNPC, DCNS, and NIKIET5

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High Temperature Gas Cooled SMRs (Examples)

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Other Generation IV SMRs (Examples)

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SMRs for Non-Electric Applications

100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200

District heating

Seawater desalination

Methanol production

Pulp & paper manufacture

Heavy oil desulfurization

Petroleum refining

Methane reforming hydrogen production

Coal gasification

Thermochemical hydrogen production

Blast furnace steel making

Water cooled reactors

Liquid metal cooled reactors

Sodium-cooled fast reactors

Supercritical water-cooled reactors

Molten Salt reactors

Gas-cooled fast reactors

Very high temperature reactors

(oC)

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Prospects for SMRs

• Improves access to energy (SDG#7) in remote areas

• Adds security for countries lacking energy resources

• Alternative to fossil energy for desalination, district heating, and chemical processing

• Transportable SMRs could open new markets.

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Advantages Issues and Challenges

Tech

nolo

gy Is

sues

• Shorter construction period (modularization)

• Potential for enhanced safety and reliability

• Design simplicity• Suitability for non-electric

application (desalination, etc.).• Replacement for aging fossil

plants, reducing GHG emissions

• Licensability (first-of-a-kind structure, systems and components)

• Non-LWR technologies• Operability and Maintainability• Staffing for multi-module plant;

Human factor engineering; • Supply Chain for multi-modules• Advanced R&D needs

Non

-Tec

hno

Issu

es

• Fitness for smaller electricity grids• Options to match demand growth

by incremental capacity increase• Site flexibility• Reduced emergency planning zone• Lower upfront capital cost (better

affordability)• Easier financing scheme

• Economic competitiveness• Plant cost estimate• Regulatory infrastructure• Availability of design for newcomers• Physical Security• Post Fukushima action items on

institutional issues and public acceptance

Advantages, Issues & Challenges

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(2)BASICDESIGN&ENGINEERINGDEVELOPMENT

(3)DETAILEDDESIGN,TESTING,&VALIDATION

(OwnerParticipationinFOAK)

(1)PROJECTCREATION,CONCEPTUALDESIGN,FUNDING&ECONOMIC

STUDIES

(5)SUPPLIERDEVELOPMENT&QUALIFICATION

Designer/Vendor Roadmap for Near-Term Deployable SMR

(6)PRE-LICENSINGDISCUSSIONSand/orDESIGNCERTIFICATIONACTIVITES

(7)OWNER/LICENSEEANDINTERNATIONALINTERACTIONS

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Obtain Regulatory Acceptance

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Submit Final Licensing Package

Submit Preliminary Licensing Package

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3

Test PlansFinalized

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Final Design Package

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Qualified Suppliers List

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Owner Requirements

Project Charter

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Conceptual Design & Econ Studies

1

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Preliminary Regulatory Response

(4)FUELDESIGNASSESSMENT&QUALIFICATION

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Fuel Design Data

4

Issue Fuel Qualification Plan

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Owner Acceptance of Designer QA

Programme

1

Establish QA Programme

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Agreement of Cooperation

(FOAK)

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IAEA Generic Reactor Safety

Review (GRSR)

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IAEA Safeguards Review

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Fuel Design Assessment

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Supplier Qualification Plans

Roadmap for Technology Developer

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Roadmap for Technology User

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ButtonMILESTONE2

ReadytoinvitebidsforSMR

ButtonMILESTONE3

ReadytocommissionandoperateSMR

(1)PROJECTCREATION

(2)PLANNING,FINANCING,CONTRACTING,&SITING

(3)SITESPECIFICDESIGN&ENGINEERINGSUPPORT

(6)CONSTRUCTION

(7)TRAINING&INITIALSTARTUP

(8)OPERATIONS,SPENTFUEL&

WASTEMANAGEMENT,

DECOMMISSIONING

Owner/Licensee Roadmap for Near-Term Deployable SMR

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EPC Contract Signed

2

Site Application Submitted

4

Construction License Issued

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Commercial Operation Date (COD)

1

Bilateral Agreement

Signed(Gov-to-Gov)

PHASE2

1

Letters of Intent with Technology Providers Signed

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Fuel Loading

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Dry Spent Fuel Storage Site Approved

(4)LICENSING&REGULATORYOVERSIGHT

3

Submit Application for Construction License

1

Technology Assessments

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Reactor Modules Ready

5

Reactor Fuel Ready

1

Project Charter

(5)Procurement,SupplierDevelopment&Qualification

(Includingreactormodules&fuelcontracts)

2

Early Site PrepsCompleted

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Operator Licenses Issued

PHASE3

4

Site PermitApproved

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Award Reactor Module Contract

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First Concrete

3 Years(NOAK)

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IAEA works to increase support to Member States on SMRs • Target capacity building for Member States:

1. considering or embarking to use nuclear energy; 2. expanding nuclear capabilities.

• Provide energy planning support to include innovative uses of SMRs.

• Stay abreast of information and technology development related to demands for SMRs.

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Summary

• SMRs can help countries meet their low-carbon needs for energy.

• SMRs are an innovative technology that can play a role in future NDCs.

• IAEA works to enhance the ability of Member States to assess the deployment potential for SMRs.

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IAEA For inquiries, please contact: David Shropshire <D.Shropshire@iaea.org>

… Thank you for your attention.

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