Generation IV Program Accomplishments

FY 2009 Planned Activities:

• Issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement for up to $40 million for planning work for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP).
• Complete NGNP technology development roadmaps for critical structures, systems, and components.
• Continue conceptual design activities for high project-risk systems and components.
• Negotiate with industry an agreement on cooperative development of NGNP.
• Gathered environmental data for the prospective NGNP site in Idaho
• Complete preconceptual design of Component Test Facility (CTF) test loop for advanced reactors.
• Complete NGNP licensing plan based on licensing specification.
• Cooperate with the NRC to resolve regulatory uncertainties for gas reactors.
• Complete the first NGNP fuel irradiation experiment (AGR-1) in the ATR and removed the AGR-1 fixture from the reactor.
• Complete and shipped the fuel compacts for the second NGNP fuel irradiation experiment (AGR-2) in the ATR and performed the final AGR-2 design review.
• Complete the design of the test train for simulating severe fuel damage.
• Achieve “Ready-to-Insert” status for first Advanced Graphite Creep (AGC-1) experiment.
• Complete environmental experiments and mechanical property tests for potential Intermediate Heat Exchanger (IHX) alloys.
• Continue the support of industry-code committees in qualifying high-temperature materials and analytical methods.
• Complete test plan for water-cooled Reactor Cavity Cooling System (RCCS) experiments in Natural Convection Shutdown Heat Removal Test Facility (NSTF) at ANL.
• Continue analytical method and code development for benchmarking pebble-bed and prismatic cores in both physics and heat transport.
• Co-chair the GIF VHTR Steering Committee and provided critical GIF Secretariat and meeting facilitation support for two GIF Policy Group and two GIF Expert Group meetings.
• Continue collaboration with Japan on zirconium-carbide fuel particle coatings.
• Conduct, in cooperation with France and the Republic of Korea, thermal-hydraulic analyses and experiments for VHTR safety.
• Continue collaboration with France on nano-structured ferritic alloys that display superior high-temperature strength and creep properties.
• Continue development and application of benchmarking methodologies (economics, proliferation resistance and physical protection, and reactor safety).
• Continue advanced methods development utilizing the capabilities of the Department’s high-speed, massively-parallel computers.
• Maintain the Generation IV Materials Handbook and arranged for other GIF organizations to share existing data and new materials data developed in the Gen IV Program.
• Upgrade the supercritical carbon dioxide energy-conversion loop experiment with additional components and obtained data on the component behavior under supercritical conditions.
• Issue a competitive solicitation to award mission-specific research and development including projects relevant to the Gen IV program.

FY 2008 Accomplishments:

• Completed  the joint development of the NGNP Licensing Strategy with the NRC and submitting the strategy to Congress as required by EPAct 2005.
• Continued the irradiation of the first NGNP fuel tests in the ATR.
• Completed the fabrication and characterization of low-enriched uranium oxycarbon (UCO) coated particles for the second in-reactor fuel test for NGNP.
• Incorporated the findings from the fuel trade-study conducted in FY 2007 into the NGNP fuels research plan.
• Continued the support of industry-code committees in qualifying high-temperature materials and analytical methods.
• Pursued benchmarked analyses of pebble-bed and prismatic cores for both physics and heat transport.
• Initiated conceptual design activities aimed at high project-risk systems and components.
• Completed the assembly of the graphite creep test apparatus mockup.
• Informed its acquisition strategy by issuing a public Request for Information and Expressions of Interest regarding the future implementation of the NGNP Program
• Initiated the Deep-Burn program in accordance with Congressional direction.
• Initiated advanced methods development utilizing the capabilities of the Department’s high-speed, massively-parallel computers.
• Continued the development of the Gen IV Materials Handbook
• Conducted cost-shared research in GIF VHTR Projects for Design, Safety, and Integration; Computational Methods and Benchmarks; Materials; and Fuel and Fuel Cycle.
• Re-initiated collaboration with France on nano-structured ferritic alloys that display superior high-temperature strength and creep properties ans on composite materials for VHTR control rod structures.
• Initiated collaborative project with France and the Republic of Korea on mechanical and corrosion testing of nickel-based alloys for VHTR applications.
• Conducted, in cooperation with France and the Republic of Korea, thermal-hydraulic analyses and experiments for VHTR safety.
• Continued collaboration with Japan on zirconium-carbide fuel particle coatings.
•  Conducted energy-conversion loop experiment with supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO2) as the working fluid and obtained data on the compressor behavior operating near the SCO2 critical point.
• Continued pre-conceptual design studies on prismatic-core and pebble-bed versions of the AHTR to establish the concept’s viability and advantages.
• Co-chaired the GIF VHTR Steering Committee and contributed to the joint GIF VHTR R&D Plans.
• Continued development of benchmarking methodologies (economics, proliferation resistance and physical protection, and reactor safety).
• Completed, in collaboration with GIF partners, GIF Cost Estimating Guidelines version 3 with associated software (G4ECONS) to provide a standardized methodology for estimating capital cost and life-cycle cost of nuclear energy systems and developing training material.  The GIF Secretariat, which provides configuration control and distributes the software and guidelines upon request, fulfilled more than 50 requests.