Overview of U.S. DOE Nuclear Energy Instrumentation and Control R&D Suibel Schuppner Office of Nuclear Energy U.S. Department of Energy IAEA Technical Working Group on Nuclear Power Plant Instrumentation and Control (TWG-NPPIC) May 24-26, 2011 Vienna, Austria
Office of Nuclear Energy Mission The primary mission of NE is to advance nuclear power as a resource capable of making major contributions in meeting the nation s energy supply, environmental, and energy security needs by resolving technical, cost, safety, security and regulatory issues, through research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) Objective is to enable the development and deployment of fission power systems for Production of electricity (MWh) Process heat (BTUs) 2
Office of Nuclear Energy R&D Objectives Nuclear Energy R&D Objectives 1. Develop technologies and other solutions that can improve the reliability, sustain the safety, and extend the life of current reactors 2. Develop improvements in the affordability of new reactors to enable nuclear energy to help meet the Administration's energy security and climate change goals 3. Develop sustainable nuclear fuel cycles 4. Understand and minimize the risks of nuclear proliferation and terrorism Four complementary R&D programs Reactor Concepts (LWRS, SMR, NGNP, ARC) Fuel Cycle Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies International Nuclear Energy Cooperation 3
I&C Technologies Needs Advances in I&C technologies needed to: Extend the life of current LWRs Assure safety and achieve new operational goals for new advanced reactors Enable future fuel cycle deployment Needs: Sensor technologies for new process measurements Sustainable life cycle of new monitoring and control technologies Highly secure and reliable digital communications More highly integrated control, fleet wide asset management, and intelligent automation 4
NE R&D I&C activities Unique programmatic needs AND crosscutting challenges Instrumentation, Controls and Human-Machine Interface (IC&HMI) Technology Workshop (May 2002) Technology Roadmap IC&HMI to Support DOE Advanced Nuclear Energy Programs (March 2007) LWRS Workshop on Advanced Instrumentation, Information, and Control Systems and Human-System Interface Technologies (March 2009) SBIR/STTR projects awarded in I&C technology LWRS, FCR&D, NGNP, ARC programs support I&C work specific to their areas FY 2011 Budget requested for new SMR and NEET programs, which include I&C technology support 5
NE R&D Programs I&C activities 6
Light Water Reactor Sustainability: Instrumentation, Information, and Control Systems (II&C) Current technology for II&C is not sustainable Recent digital replacements and modernizations are perceived as high risk Regulatory uncertainty and a risk-averse industry reinforce From this the status quo of outdated and antiquated analog I&C ALWR licensing will not overcome II&C limitations Asset owners recognize that the needed change is slow and can be accelerated with substantial federal involvement to this! Confidence is created in the process of developing and deploying technology through this program A reconfigurable human-systems laboratory testbed at INL forms the basis for multi-party agreements used in research & development 7
Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP): Instruments, Controls, and Human Machine Interface R&D High Temperature Applications Accelerate Aging through Thermal Cycling Corrosion Creep Fatigue Resilient Control provides early detection and response to prevent unnecessary cycling and shutdown Resilient Control Systems - Control Inferred Parameters not Directly Measureable to Limit Thermal Cycles Position Steam Generator Phase Change Boundary to Minimize Corrosion Understand 3-D Power and Thermal Distribution across Reactor Core and Fuel Elements Control plant when primary sensor is compromised Perceive, Detect, and Respond rapidly to perturbations 8
ICHMI RD&D is needed to meet unique challenges and opportunities of SMRs Small Modular Reactor (SMR): Instrumentation, Controls, and Human-Machine Interface (ICHMI) Unique Operational and Process Characteristics Unconventional dynamic behavior and distinctive architectures Extended operation and longer fuel cycles Different coolants and more extreme environments Enhanced Affordability Lower capital costs Reduced plant operations and maintenance costs Enhanced Functionality Multi-unit plant management Multiple product streams Flexible operability Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) Priorities Resolve technology gaps Address critical technical and licensing issues Operational staffing requirements Internal component integrity monitoring Multi-module control 9
Fuel Cycle R&D (FCR&D): Fuel Cycle Research and Development Instrumentation Motivation: Nuclear fuel key enabler for improved reactors High fidelity real-time data essential to characterize fuel irradiation performance and validate new sciencebased models Thermal conductivity Diameter Average temperature Goal: Instrumented irradiation capsule providing real-time data to characterize fuel microstructure, temperature, pressure, dimensions, and thermal properties Benefit: Data for fuel optimization and model validation GOAL CURRENT Microstructural Changes 3D Temperature Distribution 10
Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies (NEET): Advanced Sensors and Instrumentation (ASI) Address common, enabling, and critical needs of DOE NE R&D programs: Coordinate prioritization and planning of major I&C related R&D initiatives Avoid duplication of development activities Reduce costs and uncertainties Address needed testing and demonstration to achieve qualification of new I&C technologies Research near term maturation of sensors, instrumentation, and associated technologies common across programs Research goals: Novel measurement capabilities Intelligent automation and adaptive interface capabilities Adaptive and resilient digital monitoring and control Robust communication technologies and architectures 11
Solicited research that supports I&C Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Competitive awards for small businesses only Winners keep the rights to any technology developed and are encouraged to commercialize the technology Funded by federal R&D budgets set aside I&C area under nuclear technology section www.science.energy.gov/sbir Nuclear Energy University Programs Competitive awards for universities Three year awards Funded by R&D programs 20% contribution I&C areas under programs www.neup.gov 12
Conclusion DOE-NE has defined a solid long term vision, consistent with the administration goals, that will support nuclear energy as a viable option into the future DOE NE programs have supported and continue to support Sensors, Instrumentation, Controls and Human-Machine Interface R&D activities R&D Programs address unique I&C issues of individual programs Common challenges and needs across programs will be addressed under Advanced Sensors and Instrumentation Small business and university I&C research through solicitations We need to ensure that future nuclear energy options leverage new I&C technologies to achieve safe, reliable, sustainable, and efficient operation 13