OURNALJA Reprint

FALL 2000

®

About EPRI®

EPRI creates science and technology solutions for theglobal energy and energy services industry. U.S. electricutilities established the Electric Power Research Insti-tute® in 1973 as a nonprofit research consortium for thebenefit of utility members, their customers, and society.Now known simply as EPRI, the company provides awide range of innovative products and services to morethan 1000 energy-related organizations in 40 countries.EPRI’s multidisciplinary team of scientists and engi-neers draws on a worldwide network of technical andbusiness expertise to help solve today’s toughest energyand environmental problems.

EPRI. Electrify the World

Staff and Contributors

DAVID DIETRICH, Editor-in-Chief

TAYLOR MOORE, Senior Feature Writer

SUSAN DOLDER, Senior Technical Editor

MARTHA LOVETTE, Senior Production Editor

DEBRA MANEGOLD, Typographer

KATHY MARTY, Art Consultant

BRENT BARKER, Manager, Corporate Communications

MARK GABRIEL, Director, Global Marketing

Address correspondence to:Editor-in-ChiefEPRI JournalP.O. Box 10412Palo Alto, CA 94303

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© 2000 Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Inc. All rightsreserved. Electric Power Research Institute, EPRI, and EPRI Jour-nal are registered service marks of the Electric Power ResearchInstitute, Inc. EPRI. ELECTRIFY THE WORLD is a service markof the Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.

COVER: With license renewal processes and procedures firmlyestablished by the successful Calvert Cliffs and Oconee applica-tions, industry leaders expect most U.S. nuclear plants to even-tually seek 20-year license renewal. (Photo collage by MarthaLovette)

OURNALJ ®

1000209

EDITORIAL

2 Preserving the Nuclear Option for Energy Security

COVER STORY

8 License Renewal Revitalizes the Nuclear Industry

Following the NRC’s approval of 20-year license renewals for two

U.S. plants, about a third of the country’s nuclear reactors plan to

apply for renewal by 2003, extending nuclear’s franchise for power

production well into the new century.

FEATURES

18 Retail Service Offerings: Thinking Beyond Price

Is low price the only consumer concern in signing up with an energy

retailer? According to EPRI’s Share Wars customer choice study,

consumers are willing to pay substantially more for special service

features they find to be of value.

24 Powering Healthcare’s Future

EPRI’s Healthcare Initiative works in partnership with healthcare

organizations, energy service providers, and equipment vendors to

increase the use of electrotechnologies that maintain the quality of

patient care while controlling costs.

DEPARTMENTS

3 Contributors

4 Products

6 Project Startups

34 In the Field

LISTINGS

36 Technical Reports and Software

40 EPRI Events

V O L U M E 2 5 , N U M B E R 3 F A L L 2 0 0 0

OURNALJ

8 Nuclear relicensing

24 Healthcare

18 Service offerings

2 EPRI JOURNAL Fall 2000

Editorial

Regulatory approval of the first renewed operating

licenses for U.S. nuclear power plants has set the

stage for a new era—one that ensures a continu-

ing role for nuclear energy in preserving America’s en-

ergy security and resource diversity. This new era is a

direct result of the electric utility industry’s collabora-

tion with EPRI over the past 20 years to establish the

technical foundation for extended plant operation and

to incorporate life-cycle management methodology

into ongoing plant operations and maintenance. The

pioneering efforts of Constellation Energy’s Calvert

Cliffs plant and Duke Energy’s Oconee plant, whose

license renewal applications were approved by the

Nuclear Regulatory Commission earlier this year, bene-

fit the entire nuclear utility sector. These efforts have

also established reasonable costs and schedules for

renewal applications.

The successful launch of the nuclear plant license

renewal era clearly demonstrates the strategic value of

long-term R&D and highlights the importance of con-

tinued collaboration in the technical work required to

support extended plant operation over the next 30 to

40 years. EPRI initiated its license renewal work with

its nuclear utility members more than 20 years ago to

help ensure that this strategic option would be avail-

able when needed. As it turns out, the renewal option

has arrived in time to impact utility decision making in

the emerging deregulated, competitive electricity sup-

ply market.

License renewal provides ample time to address the

inevitable challenges for a commercial revival of nuclear

power as a strategically vital, economical, emissions-

and carbon-free energy source in the United States.

Nuclear plants have generated almost 25% of the nation’s

electricity through the first half of 2000. Nevertheless,

in the eyes of the public, there are open questions. For

example, the management of used fuel is an issue of

public concern. Nuclear plants have stored used fuel

safely on-site since the beginning of the nuclear era, but

we need to push ahead with the federal fuel repository

for long-term storage. Here again R&D has helped

resolve the technical questions.

Paralleling efforts to develop a spent-fuel repository

must be a major new initiative by utilities, reactor

vendors, and the government to reduce the capital cost

of future nuclear plants. Cost reductions beyond those

already made will be necessary if new nuclear capacity

is to be competitive with natural gas–fired combined-

cycle plants on the basis of current fuel prices. The

optimization of currently licensed passive and evolu-

tionary advanced light water reactor designs offers one

approach, and—when proven viable—smaller, modular

nuclear plants using high-temperature gas as a coolant

will offer another.

Many countries that have committed to reductions

in carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combus-

tion will face enormous economic penalties if the nuclear

alternative is eliminated. The same may be true for the

United States if we do not fund the engineering devel-

opment required for a true renaissance of nuclear

power. A sustainable national energy future requires

solutions that meet our growing energy needs in a way

that is safe, reliable, and environmentally friendly.

Nuclear energy has all these attributes. It does not pol-

lute the air or water. Its fuel supply is plentiful, inex-

pensive, and secure. Nuclear energy helps preserve

scarce natural resources.

The American public increasingly recognizes the

importance of nuclear energy as part of our future energy

strategy. In order to maintain and enhance public sup-

port, the nuclear industry must continue to operate the

current reactor fleet safely and reliably and to invest in

technology advances. A robust national energy policy

and responsible stewardship of natural resources require

that we keep all our energy options open.

Ted Marston

Vice President and

Chief Nuclear Officer

Preserving the Nuclear Option for Energy Security

Fall 2000 EPRI JOURNAL 3

Contributors

License Renewal Revitalizes the Nuclear In-dustry (page 8) was written by Taylor Moore, Jour-

nal senior feature writer, with assistance from John

Carey of EPRI’s Science and Technology Development

Division.

JOHN CAREY, manager for life-cycle management

and license renewal, heads a research program aimed

at obtaining maximum value from existing nuclear

power plants. Since the early 1980s,

the team he leads has focused on

establishing a viable, predictable,

and cost-effective plant license re-

newal process; developing aging

management tools; and developing

and applying nuclear asset management tools for

plant valuation and resource allocation decisions. Be-

fore coming to EPRI in 1976, Carey was an associate

mechanical engineer at Argonne National Laboratory.

He received BS, MS, and PhD degrees in engineering

mechanics from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Retail Service Offerings: Thinking Beyond Price(page 18) was written by David C. Lineweber and

Patricia B. Garber of Primen, an EPRI affiliate focused

on developing and providing comprehensive energy

market intelligence.

DAVID C. LINEWEBER, vice president in charge of

Primen’s Knowledge Development Group, directs re-

search that supports strategic business decision mak-

ing by providing insights about the

likely customer value of changes

in retail business direction. Before

joining Primen, which began opera-

tion this year, Lineweber was a vice

president at PHB Hagler Bailly and

at National Analysts; at both firms he was responsible

for developing and directing energy-related marketing

and marketing research practices. Before 1990, he was

a vice president at Cambridge Reports/Research Inter-

national and an assistant professor of sociology at

Gonzaga University. Lineweber earned a BA degree

in sociology from the University of Delaware and

MA and PhD degrees in the same field from Stanford

University.

PATRICIA B. GARBER is a principal with the

Knowledge Development Group at Primen, special-

izing in customer choice, retail marketing strategy,

customer loyalty, market segmenta-

tion, and new products. Before

joining Primen, she served as man-

ager of retail energy products at

EPRI and as a senior consultant at

Hagler Bailly. Earlier in her career,

she was a senior consultant at J.D. Power and Associ-

ates and a product director at the University of Wis-

consin. Garber holds three degrees in sociology—a

BA from California State University and an MA and a

PhD from the University of California at Los Angeles.

Powering Healthcare’s Future (page 24) was writ-

ten by science writer David Boutacoff, with assistance

from Winston Chow and Keith Carns of EPRI’s Sci-

ence and Technology Development Division.

WINSTON CHOW is manager of the industrial, agri-

cultural, residential, and commercial technology and

services research area. Earlier he was product line

manager for environmental research

and program manager for waste

and water management and pollu-

tion prevention. Before joining

EPRI in 1979, he spent seven years

as a power plant design engineering

supervisor at Bechtel. Before that, he worked for Ray-

chem on polymer R&D. Chow holds a BS from the

University of California at Berkeley and an MS from

San Jose State University, both in chemical engineer-

ing, and an MBA from San Francisco State University.

KEITH CARNS is manager of the municipal water/

wastewater technology target, the food and agriculture

technology target, and the EPRI Healthcare Initiative.

Before joining EPRI in 1993, he ran

an environmental consulting firm

for two years. His earlier experience

includes 24 years with the East Bay

Municipal Utility District of Oak-

land, California. Carns has a BS in

civil engineering and an MS in environmental engi-

neering from the University of California at Berkeley.

4 EPRI JOURNAL Fall 2000

ProductsDeliverables now available to EPRI members and customers

Decontamination Handbook

D econtamination has played a key role in reducing occupa-tional exposures to radiation at U.S. nuclear power plants

over the past decade. In this process, dilute chemical solvents areused to remove deposited radioactivity. EPRI has been at theforefront of developing decontamination solvents and helpingutilities implement plant demonstrations. Today’s challenges areto reduce the costs of decontamination activities and to minimize

the activities’ impact on the duration of plant outages. TheDecontamination Handbook compiles lessons learned fromsub- and full-system applications, as well as decontamina-tion after permanent plant shutdown. It covers dilute sol-vents, corrosion issues, the effects of coolant chemistry,recontamination rates, and waste disposal issues. Thehandbook synthesizes critical information to help utilitypersonnel plan quick, efficient decontamination activitiesthat meet plant-specific needs.

� For more information, contact Howard Ocken, hocken@epri.com,

650-855-2055. To order the handbook (TR-112352), call EPRI Cus-

tomer Service, 800-313-3774.

BWR Water Chemistry Guidelines—2000 Revision

The control of BWR water chemistry increases plant availability by reducing intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) in

cooling-system piping and reactor internals. The latest revision of theBWR Water Chemistry Guidelines presents new information that plantchemistry personnel can use to develop proactive, plant-specific waterchemistry programs to minimize IGSCC, flow-accelerated corrosion,fuel performance degradation, and radiation buildup. Two EPRI re-search advisory committees revised the guidelinesin response to the discovery of IGSCC in the coreshrouds of several BWRs—a finding that suggestscracking may be present in other reactor internalcomponents as well. The recommendations foradjusting chemistry limits and implementingmore cost-effective monitoring are expected toimprove protection against materials and fuelproblems and reduce the risk of losing reactoroutput because of chemistry transients.� For more information, contact Chris Wood, cwood@epri.com,

650-855-2379. To order the guidelines (TR-103515-R2), call EPRI Customer

Service, 800-313-3774.

Lightning Protection Design Workstation 5.0

EPRI’s Lightning Protection Design Workstation™ is a state-of-the-art tool to help engineers design lightning protection for

transmission and distribution lines, using such techniques as shield-ing, improved grounding, line arresters, and upgraded insulation. LPDW incorpo-rates accepted methods and standards from EPRI, IEEE, and international sources. Itcan use data from the National Lightning Detection Network, and it integrates theresults of research involving lightning stroke characteristics, composite insulation,and lightning surge characteristics. A new module in version 5.0 includes an under-ground cable design worksheet and calculator. Designed for the Windows 98 and NToperating systems, LPDW includes reference material and an on-line help system.� For more information, contact Vito Longo, vlongo@epri.com, 650-855-8586, or David Rob-

bins, drobbins@epri.com, 413-499-5711. To order the software (AP-113176 ), call EPRI Cus-

tomer Service, 800-313-3774.

EMF Management Reference Book

R esearch by EPRI and other organizations over the past 20 yearshas provided much practical information about the management

of electric and magnetic fields near power delivery facilities. The re-sults of this research have been consolidated in a useful referencebook for professionals involved in the engineering aspects of EMFmanagement. The new guide presents a large number of options for use inreducing power-frequency fields—options that have been tested and, in somecases, actually demonstrated on utility systems. In the area of shield design, forexample, the guide discusses new knowledge about the use of such materials ascopper and sheet steel. An accompanying CD contains calculation tools, a glos-sary, and tutorial material to help the user apply the field reduction options.� For more information, contact Frank Young, fyoung@epri.com, 650-855-2815. To

order the reference book (AP-114200), call EPRI Customer Service, 800-313-3774.

Electricity Pricing Book

P ricing in today’s rapidly changing industry is the focus of a new book edited by AhmadFaruqui, EPRI’s area manager for retail and power markets, and Kelly Eakin, vice pres-

ident of the energy consulting firm Christensen Associates. The book, entitled Pricing inCompetitive Electricity Markets, introduces new pricing concepts, methodologies, models,tools, and databases for dealing with issues—such as the loss of assets—arising in the evo-lution from traditional ratemaking under regulation to a restructured, deregulated market.Case studies in restructuring, risk management, and the pricing of energy services are ana-lyzed by a variety of experts. Among the topics covered are market design and price behav-ior, the anticipation of competitor responses, and the effect of technology on pricing.� For more information, contact Ahmad Faruqui, afaruqui@epri.com, 650-855-2096. To order the

book ($129.95), call Kluwer Academic Publishers, 781-871-6600, or e-mail kluwer@wkap.com.

Fall 2000 EPRI JOURNAL 5

6 EPRI JOURNAL Fall 2000

Pinpointing Hot Spots in Combustion Turbine Blades

Some 75% of all new generating ca-pacity planned in the United States

over the next decade is expected to bebased on combustion turbines. As the useof these turbines increases, plant opera-tors are becoming acutely aware of themachines’ higher-than-projected operat-ing and maintenance expenses. In partic-ular, there is increasing concern about the replacement and other costs related tothe durability and performance of hot-section parts, which experience the great-est thermal stress. A grow-ing backlog of orders forthe latest combustion tur-bine models is adding tounit availability and main-tenance pressures.

In 1998, operators ofadvanced F-class combus-tion turbines reportedthat none of the first-rowblades in machines re-cently placed in operationhad lasted the expected24,000 hours before refur-bishment. Although theseverity and nature of theproblems varied, they in-volved machines from allmajor vendors. Concerns over commis-sioning delays, spiraling O&M costs, andfailures of advanced turbines have per-sisted into 2000.

“Striking parallels can be drawn be-tween the present combustion turbineboom and the introduction of a new gen-eration of steam turbines in the 1970s,”says Vis Viswanathan, an EPRI technicalfellow and senior manager for materialsapplications technology. “At that time, anunprecedented increase in the number ofsteam turbine units created an insatiabledemand for replacement parts to ensureunit availability to meet consumer elec-

tricity demand. The demand for replace-ment parts was exacerbated by infantmortality problems when reliable turbinemodels were scaled up beyond theirdesign-cycle capabilities and the knowl-edge base of field service personnel.” Thecosts and lost availability for power pro-duction associated with the steam turbineboom were documented in an EPRI sur-vey at the time.

In the current combustion turbineboom, EPRI’s goal is to reduce the life-cycle costs of hot-section components byat least one-third. This amounts to over$45 million for a single unit in either base-

load or cycling duty. Atwo-year EPRI initiativeon the life management ofhot-section components—aimed at providing theengineering knowledgeneeded by operators ofadvanced F-class ma-chines to retain effectivecontrol over replacementof the most expensiveparts—has produced anumber of key results atits midpoint. These in-clude a hot-section lifemanagement system forpredicting creep andfatigue damage. This sys-

tem can predict the location of thermalbarrier coating failure in first-row buckets,which are the most complex to analyze in terms of temperature and stress. Com-bining aerothermal and structural analy-ses with damage algorithms, the systemaccurately predicts blade temperature andstress distributions for both steady-stateand transient conditions.

The initial sponsors of the hot-sectioncomponents initiative chose the GeneralElectric Frame 7FA+ and Frame 9FA tur-bines as the prototype cases for validatingthe system’s first-row bucket predictionand simulation capabilities. A six-step val-

idation process included the use of air-flow tests, optical pyrometry measure-ments of surface temperatures, and metal-lographic analysis.

The analytical approach embodied inEPRI’s life management platform for hot-section parts offers companies a vendor-independent source of technical expertise.“We have the combination of capabilitiesnecessary for bringing the elements ofmaterials, design, and operation together,”says John Scheibel, EPRI’s area managerfor combustion turbines. “Through ad-vanced simulations, the life managementplatform provides the temperature andstress information required to determinethe life consumption of any operatingcycle. It’s a design tool for combustionturbine operators, who can benchmarktheir specific operating scenarios againstthe generic properties of the turbine man-ufacturer’s design.”

Another product of the initiative is theCOATLIFE code for estimating the re-maining life of thermal barrier coatings. A comprehensive handbook on the prop-erties of all bucket materials is expectedto be available by the end of this year, andguidelines for improved buckets and forreducing life-cycle costs will also be is-sued beginning around then.

Companies that operate combustionturbines and are concerned about escalat-ing parts costs and related durabilityissues are encouraged to join the EPRIhot-section component life managementprogram. Potential future work includesthe development of the hot-section lifemanagement system and COATLIFE intocontinuous, on-line monitoring tools. Thelife management approach could also beextended to other bucket rows and noz-zles in 7FA machines and to other F-classturbine models.� For more information, contact John

Scheibel, jscheibe@epri.com, 650-855-2850,

or Vis Viswanathan, rviswana@epri.com,

650-855-2450.

New ventures of importance to power and service providers

Project Startups

Fall 2000 EPRI JOURNAL 7

New Push for Sustainable Coal Power

A s noted in EPRI’s Electricity Tech-nology Roadmap, population growth

and efforts to raise the standard of livingfor billions of impoverished people areforecast to create a greater than fourfoldincrease in worldwide electricity demandby 2050. Meeting this projected demandwill require the equivalent of building anew 1000-MW power plant somewhere inthe world every two days for 50 years.Even with a dramatically greater use ofrenewable energy sources in the future,coal—the world’s most abundant fossilfuel—will continue to play a large role inmeeting the ever-growing demand forelectricity in this century. This is particu-larly true for developing countries likeChina and India that have large, indige-nous coal reserves.

To accelerate research on generatingelectricity from coal in ways that are more environmentally sustainable, EPRIhas launched the Global Coal Initiative, a series of major new technology devel-opment efforts for which broad-basedsupport is being solicited among thepower generation, coal mining, and coaltransportation industries. The new ini-tiative currently includes six programsaimed at mobilizing technology advancesfor coal-fired plants that would have vir-tually no air pollutant by-products andnegligible or no net emissions of carbondioxide, the chief greenhouse gas impli-cated in global warming. The programsaddress CO2 control options; ultrasuper-critical pulverized-coal plants; advancedhigh-efficiency plants based on integratedgasification–combined-cycle configurationsand pressurized and atmospheric fluidized-bed combustion configurations; plantsfueled by low-volatile coal; lignite-fueledplants; and real-options market analyses.

“It is imperative that we burn coal morecleanly and efficiently, with minimal CO2

emissions, to avoid the risk of global cli-mate change,” says Stephen Gehl, EPRI’sdirector of strategic technology and alli-ances. “The Global Coal Initiative willspearhead research on methods for keep-ing CO2 out of the atmosphere by seques-tering it in natural sinks or exhausted oilfields.”

Like the EPRI Electricity TechnologyRoadmap, the Global Coal Initiative isbeing developed in dialogue with inter-ested stakeholders worldwide: powerproducers, coal companies, railroads,equipment vendors, banks, governmentagencies, and research foundations. Earlyparticipants have an opportunity to helpshape the content of the initiative and to begin to receive products and servicesas soon as the end of this year.

Southern Company, one of the coun-try’s largest electric utilities, has joinedthe initiative under a program that isdeveloping real-options business modelsto help power producers evaluate technol-ogy investments in a deregulated marketwith fluctuating fuel and electricity prices.“EPRI’s Global Coal Initiative recognizesthat the future begins today, and it offerspractical strategies to keep coal a compet-itive performer in the changing energy

marketplace,” says Randall Rush, directorof Southern Company’s Power SystemsDevelopment Facility, an R&D center inWilsonville, Alabama, that EPRI has longcosponsored.

In the 1980s, EPRI led an internationalcollaboration of generating companiesand equipment suppliers in a broad effortto advance pulverized-coal technologies.The widely recognized initiative led to newmaterials and designs that shattered then-existing engineering barriers to higheroperating temperatures and pressures forthe more efficient burning of coal. “Onthe basis of stunning new advances inmaterials and design concepts, we areready to move ahead with the next phaseof this work,” says EPRI’s Tony Armor,technical executive and generation mar-ket segment director. “In combined-cycleoperation, ultrasupercritical pulverized-coal plants are capable of achieving wellover 50% efficiency, far exceeding currentplant performance levels.”� For more information, visit the EPRI Desti-

nations Web site, www.epri.com/destinations/

index.asp, and search for Global Coal Initia-

tive, or contact Tony Armor, aarmor@epri.com,

650-855-2961, or Stu Dalton, sdalton@epri.com, 650-855-2467.

T h e S t o r y i n B r i e f

The operating licenses of approximately 10% of current U.S. nuclear reactors

are scheduled to expire by the end of 2010, an eventuality once seen as the beginning

of the end for the nuclear option in the United States. But well-maintained

nuclear power plants have demonstrated their capability for safe, reliable operation well

beyond their initial 40-year license term—a period based on amortization accounting

rather than inherent operational limitations. This year, more than two decades

of preparatory engineering and planning by nuclear utilities and EPRI have paid off in

the NRC’s approval of 20-year license renewals for two nuclear plants, effectively

extending nuclear’s franchise for power production well into the new century.

About one-third of the country’s 103 nuclear reactors plan to apply for renewal by 2003,

and most currently operating plants are expected to renew their licenses. With capital

costs for the plants largely paid for, the revitalized nuclear fleet will be

among the most competitive power generators available.

b y T a y l o r M o o r e

REMARKABLE MILESTONE has been reached bythe once-quiescent nuclear power sector of theU.S. electric utility industry with the recentregulatory approval of two plants for an addi-

tional 20 years of operation beyond theiroriginal 40-year license terms. The successful completion ofthe license renewal process by these pressurized water reac-tor (PWR) plants, together with the establishment of thetechnical and regulatory bases for their approval and ex-tended operation, represents the realization of a key long-standing goal of EPRI’s nuclear power program. That goal isto ensure that the 103 units of the U.S. reactor fleet remaindependable, profitable electricity generators well into thenew century.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved re-newed licenses for Constellation Energy Group’s two-unit,1700-MW Calvert Cliffs plant in Maryland last March andfor Duke Energy Corporation’s three-unit, 2500-MW Oco-nee plant in South Carolina two months later. The com-mission’s actions were widely applauded.

“It was with intense pride that I received . . . the nation’sfirst renewed operating licenses for a nuclear power plant,”Constellation Chairman and CEO Christian Poindexter toldcompany shareholders last April. “The additional 20 years

of authorized operation will take us to the mid-2030s. Thematerial condition of the plant will soon be enhanced by asteam generator replacement project. And the expertise wehave in managing the aging process . . . will contribute to asolid base of generation for our merchant energy business.”Formerly operated by Constellation’s Baltimore Gas andElectric subsidiary, Calvert Cliffs is now part of Constella-tion Nuclear Services, a nonregulated generating subsidiary.

Commenting on Oconee’s renewed licenses, MichaelTuckman, executive vice president for nuclear generation atDuke Energy, said, “Twenty years of additional life for thisstation will serve our region very well.” He noted thatDuke’s extensive inspection, maintenance, and equipmentreplacement programs gave the utility confidence that “thestation will operate safely and reliably well into the twenty-first century.”

Joe Colvin, president and chief executive officer of theNuclear Energy Institute (NEI), the industry’s Washington-based policy organization, sees the recent renewal activity as a key enabler of a secure energy future. “The process forrenewing licenses at nuclear power plants ensures a contin-ued, reliable, clean supply of electricity to satisfy the in-creasing demands of the digital economy,” says Colvin.“There will be many more license renewals at other nuclear

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plants, further demonstrating the viabilityof nuclear energy and its vital role inAmerica’s energy mix.”

Indeed, license renewal applicationshave already been submitted to the NRCby Entergy Corporation for the ArkansasNuclear One unit 1 (ANO-1) PWR and bySouthern Nuclear for the two units of itsHatch plant in Georgia, the first boilingwater reactors (BWRs) to apply. NEI saysthat the owners of about one-third of thecountry’s nuclear reactors intend to applyfor license renewal by 2003, and ulti-mately most plants are expected to renewtheir licenses.

“The NRC’s in-depth review, whichclosely examines the safety and environ-mental record of these facilities, providesa clearly marked path for other electricitycompanies pursuing license renewal,” saysColvin. “Clearly, the next chapter in ournation’s nuclear energy history is beingwritten, and it is full of promise.” EPRI

and the U.S. Department of Energy esti-mated in the late 1980s that the value of20 more years of operation at all unitscould be as much as $200 billion; more re-cent estimates by NEI range from $110 bil-lion to $180 billion. U.S. nuclear plantsrepresent a combined 103 GW of installedgenerating capacity (about 15% of total ca-pacity) and supply one-fifth of the coun-try’s electricity.

Laying the groundworkThe success of the Calvert Cliffs and Oco-nee applications is both the start of the eraof license renewal and the culmination oftwo decades of utility industry efforts.These efforts laid the technical and regula-tory groundwork and defined the engi-neering needed for extended operationsunder plant life-cycle management. Life-cycle programs focus on managing theaging of critical plant structures, systems,and components.

In coordination with other industry or-ganizations, EPRI played a key technicalsupport role for nuclear plant operatorsthroughout the evolution of NRC rulesgoverning license renewal. EPRI took thelead in developing a knowledge base onthe effects of aging on various materialsand plant systems. The results were pre-sented in a series of industry reports thatwere submitted to the NRC and that areextensively referenced by utilities in li-cense renewal applications.

“From the beginning, EPRI has been aninvaluable partner and a vital technical re-source in life-cycle management,” saysDuke’s Tuckman. “EPRI’s early leadershipset the stage for the technical work thathas evolved into license renewal. Its tech-nical expertise has helped resolve issuesand answer the hard questions that con-fronted the NRC and our industry. Thiscollaborative work has been essential inthe success of the first two applicants forlicense renewal.”

Pilot life extension studies conductedby EPRI for two other plants in the early1980s demonstrated the economic andtechnical feasibility of extended operation(see sidebar, p. 16). Subsequently, EPRI’songoing nuclear R&D program generatedvital data on the aging of various safety-related nuclear plant materials as newquestions about age-related degradationmechanisms—such as various forms ofcorrosion—arose. And much of the engi-neering work for the Calvert Cliffs andOconee license renewal applications wasmade available to other utilities as EPRItechnical reports. EPRI has provided thissustained support of its nuclear clientsover the past two decades for a modest cu-mulative investment of some $22 million,supplemented by $15 million in membercofunding.

“Even if the total amount spent by EPRIand the lead utility license renewal appli-cants for each reactor vendor design reaches$100 million in the course of making li-cense renewal happen, the money will havebeen astoundingly well spent,” says BarthDoroshuk, president and chief operatingofficer of Constellation Nuclear Servicesand the former manager for license re-newal at Calvert Cliffs. “The payback on

10 EPRI JOURNAL Fall 2000

Nuclear utilities have expressed the intention to seek license renewal for about a third (greendots) of the country’s 103 power reactors by 2003. A renewal application can be submitted fora unit after 20 years of service up until 5 years before its current license expires.

the investment is almost immeasurable,considering the positive impact it willhave for the entire industry.”

The reason, Doroshuk explains, is thatnuclear license renewal has arrived in thenick of time to be a factor in critical utilitydecision making. The decisions will ad-dress how best to manage generating assetsduring industry restructuring and consol-idation and the emergence of deregulated,competitive wholesale—and eventually re-tail—electricity markets. Until only re-cently, uncertainties about NRC require-ments for license renewal, together withuncertainties about how past utility invest-ments in nuclear plants would be treatedby state regulatory commissions duringthe transition to deregulated markets, hadmany companies questioning their contin-ued involvement in nuclear generation.They were considering plant closures anddecommissioning or sale. Indeed, severalplants changed ownership in recent years—with the first few selling at bargain-basement prices—and several others havebeen shut down for decommissioning.

“The industry’s successful demonstrationof the license renewal option has broughtnew life into an industry that, as little asfive years ago, appeared headed toward in-

creased plant closures,” says John Carey,EPRI manager for life-cycle management.“The outlook has changed dramatically.”

Catalyzing a resurgenceTed Marston, EPRI’s chief nuclear officer,calls the change “a revitalization of indus-try psychology” and attributes it to severalfactors. “For one, the issue of strandedcosts has been resolved, at least in thosestates where deregulation and restructur-ing have already occurred. State commis-sions have put negotiated charges on con-sumers’ electric bills, spread over a numberof years, for recovering nuclear plant cap-ital investments.

“Meanwhile, the NRC has revised andclarified the license renewal rules, makingthat option more economical and practicalfor utilities to consider; now the regula-tory process overall is less prescriptive andbased more on safety performance. In ad-dition, utilities that continued to invest inmaintaining their nuclear plants are find-ing that the plants really are in very good

shape. Continuing consoli-dation among the nuclearutilities promises to furtherreduce operating and main-tenance costs. Achievingeven greater efficiencies inoperations and in equipmentand service purchases is crit-ical to the success of nuclearpower in the deregulatedmarketplace.”

Thanks to greater regula-tory certainty and to lower

O&M costs, the better-managed, better-performing nuclear units with little or noremaining debt are very economical gen-erators. They are some of the cheapest,potentially most lucrative assets availableat a time when the country’s electricitygenerating base is restructuring for retailprice competition. (It is also a time when,with very few new baseload power plantsof any type being built, capacity reservemargins are shrinking to dangerously lowlevels in some regions.) Citing productioncost data from McGraw-Hill’s Utility DataInstitute, NEI says 43 U.S. reactors gener-ate electricity for less than 2¢ per kilo-watthour. The average production cost ofU.S. nuclear plants is within one-tenth ofone cent per kilowatthour of that of coal-fired plants, the cheapest source of base-load generation.

Operating in deregulated, competitivemarkets gives nuclear plants the opportu-nity to profit most when spot market elec-tricity prices are highest—typically duringperiods of hot summer weather when the

In March, Constellation Energy’s twin-unit,1700-MW Calvert Cliffs plant on ChesapeakeBay in Maryland became the first U.S. nuclearplant to receive 20-year license renewalsfrom the NRC. Units 1 and 2 are now clearedto operate until 2034 and 2036, respectively.Constellation Chairman and CEO ChristianPoindexter joined the Calvert Cliffs staff incelebrating the successful pioneering of therenewal process.

Fall 2000 EPRI JOURNAL 11

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electricity demand for air conditioning ishigh.

Several industry initiatives have con-tributed to the performance turnaround ofnuclear plants. For example, better plan-ning and management of refueling outageshave cut their median duration from 75.5days in 1990 to 39 days in 1999; the top-performing units refuel within 25days. The less time a plant is downfor refueling, the greater its produc-tivity. In 1998, 89 nuclear units hadcapacity factors above 70%, and 74of these had capacity factors above80%. The respective numbers in1990 were 56 and 31 units.

“Deregulation may turn out to bethe best thing to happen to nucleargeneration in the United States,”says Marston. “Utilities with well-run nuclear plants are keenly awareof the value of these plants in acompetitive market.”

U.S. nuclear plants also have sub-stantial environmental value, pro-ducing virtually no emissions. Ac-

cording to NEI, an equivalent amount ofcapacity fueled by coal, oil, or natural gaswould release some 133 million tons ofcarbon dioxide a year. DOE has acknowl-edged the importance of nuclear licenserenewal in helping the country limit thegrowth of carbon emissions from fossilfuel use. It says that a typical nuclear plantdisplaces about 1.2 million metric tons ofcarbon-equivalent greenhouse gases eachyear of operation.

Compared with any alternative for newor repowered fossil generating capacity,obtaining a nuclear plant license renewalhas a low direct cost, and that cost is ex-pected to get even lower. ConstellationEnergy says its 2500-page Calvert Cliffsrenewal application, which took nearly adecade of planning and preparation, costaround $19 million, or $11 per kilowatt.Duke Energy says the cost of preparing theapplication for its larger Oconee plant wasabout $12 million, or $4.73 per kilowatt. Asa result of standardization, future applica-tions beyond the first few of a specific reac-tor design are expected to cost much less.

But the cost of preparing a license re-newal application is only part of the calcu-lus. “License renewal is just the regulatoryticket to operate the plant for an addi-tional 20 years,” notes John Carey. “It cer-tainly gives a utility flexibility in strategicplanning, but profitable operation of the

plant will depend on its life-cyclemanagement program. How do yourun the plant to get the highest pro-duction? When is the best time torefurbish or replace components?How do you avoid failures at thelowest cost? How do you find sup-pliers for replacement parts? Theseare all part of life-cycle management,which EPRI has been working onin tandem with license renewal.”

As part of plant life-cycle man-agement, additional capital invest-ments may be needed to ensure

economical operation over the extendedlicense term, including replacement oflarge components or upgrading of key sys-tems. For example, Constellation Energyand Duke Energy plan to replace all thesteam generators over the next severalyears at Calvert Cliffs and Oconee at a costof over $300 million for each plant. In ad-dition, both companies are planning tospend a similar sum for other equipmentand system upgrades at the plants over thenext five to seven years.

“These plants are not unlike any largemanufacturing facility when it comes tomaking capital investments to ensure theirreliable and safe operation,” says Doroshukof Constellation Nuclear. “As long as aplant can continue to produce electricityand investments can be made to keep itsafe, reliable, and in compliance with reg-ulatory requirements, plant upgrades makesense. We’re not unlike other industries

The NRC approved Duke Energy’s licenserenewal application for its three-unit, 2500-MW Oconee plant on Lake Keowee in Seneca,South Carolina, in May. In planning for licenserenewal at Oconee, the company adopted acomprehensive life-cycle management ap-proach focused not only on extending opera-tion from 40 to 60 years but also on bene-fiting operations for the remainder of theplant’s original license term.

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that compete on the basis of cost-effectiveoperation of facilities. The Calvert Cliffsand Oconee renewals and planned up-grades illustrate how license renewal andplant life management go hand in hand.”

With only a few years left on an oper-ating license, utilities would be reluctantto make substantial investments like the$300 million Constellation and Duke areeach planning to spend for new steamgenerators. But that amount is only a frac-tion of the projected value of Calvert Cliffsor Oconee over an extended operating life.Says Carey, “License renewal effectivelyminimizes the endgame effect of declininginvestment in a plant as it ages.”

Looking ahead with a new lease on lifeBy the end of this decade, it is expectedthat all the plants planning to apply for li-cense renewal will have done so and thatthe NRC will have reviewed and ruled oneach individual unit. Beyond that pointcomes the real work of life-cycle manage-ment for each plant.

According to Greg Robison, Duke En-ergy project manager for license renewal,planning for Oconee’s license renewal wasa strong motivator for taking a larger, life-cycle management, perspective. “We be-gan to think long ago about critical com-ponents in the plant—the pressure vesseland key piping and pumps. Over time werealized that life-cycle management ismultifaceted and not just about pieces ofhardware. We had to remind ourselves toback up and ask broader, longer-termquestions: How much are we spending onmaintenance? What kinds of things aregoing to develop as the plant gets older?What kinds of modernization are going tobe needed? When you do that, you go be-yond safety and reliability issues. That’swhere life-cycle management comes in—looking at the total plant to understandtechnically how it ages and to understandwhat it’s going to take financially to stay inbusiness.”

Looking five years out, says Robison,“we see deregulation coming, and we see acontinued need for the electric utility in-dustry to be able to manage the aging ofplant hardware and to be able to afford

plant retrofits, control systems upgrades,and the like. Because the U.S. nuclear plantfleet is not standardized, we need contin-ual dialogue to come up with solutionsthat work for each plant. EPRI provides aforum for having those dialogues, and wetry to take advantage of them as often aswe can.”

For Duke, every lesson learned from theexperience of relicensing Oconee is a les-son that can be applied several times again.The company is already working on li-cense renewal applications for its McGuireand Catawba plants. “We expect manycost elements to be less for McGuire andCatawba—certainly the technical develop-ment costs should be less. We’ve already

published a lot of work, much of whichwe can reuse, and EPRI has published alot. When we began work on the Oconeeapplication, we had plant-specific prob-lems. Now we have industry solutions thatcan be applied,” says Robison.

“The industry and the NRC are in theprocess of standardizing what we’ve learnedfrom the Calvert Cliffs and Oconee work,”Robison continues. “In considering the ag-ing of a piece of hardware, we know it’s aproduct of the materials, the environmentthe hardware is exposed to, and the loadsor stresses applied to it. That’s generallytrue regardless of the industry involved.Through its publications, EPRI has helpedus put into perspective the fact that the

Nuclear utilities have had great success in reducing the time that units are out of service forrefueling, with better outage planning and management cutting the median duration of re-fueling outages from 75.5 days in 1990 to 39 days in 1999. This marked improvement has been largely responsible for a steady increase in U.S. nuclear plant capacity factors in recentyears—to an average 85.5% in 1999.

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process is going to occur in every nuclearplant.

“We need to look at how we manage aparticular kind of aging and find a com-mon approach for doing it—like the EPRIwater chemistry guidelines we all use. Inthat case, EPRI’s work helped to standard-ize a plant programmatic solution thatprevents corrosion problems in piping sys-tems. We expect there will be other suchareas where commonality can be derivedfrom an EPRI effort—for ex-ample, the area of flow-acceler-ated corrosion.”

Returns on R&D investmentThe willingness of nuclear util-ities to support EPRI’s collabo-rative program has paid divi-dends over the near term—dividends that are expected tobe critically important for ex-tended operation.

“EPRI has developed manyprograms that have to be cred-ited for contributing to our li-cense renewal application,” saysChuck Pierce, license renewalproject manager at SouthernNuclear, which has submitted a renewalapplication for its Hatch BWR units to theNRC. “Without those programs havingbeen generically fleshed out by EPRI, wewould be having a much more difficulttime right now with license renewal.EPRI’s BWRVIP [BWR Vessel and InternalsProject] and the BWR water chemistryguidelines are particularly important. Wewill need those programs well into thefuture to continue to mitigate aging, par-ticularly as new issues arise.” (Earlier thisyear, the NRC approved two BWRVIPguideline reports for referencing in licenserenewal applications.)

On the basis of EPRI’s work demon-strating the benefits of life-cycle manage-ment programs, Southern Nuclear is con-sidering implementing its own program atHatch. EPRI recently published Southern’stime-limited aging analysis for the Hatchplant to benefit other BWR utilities con-sidering license renewal.

Preserving and updating the historicalbody of technical knowledge about aging

effects constitute an important role forEPRI, which has the expertise to evaluatenew information and developments. Anexample of this role cited by Pierce and byGarry Young, license renewal project man-ager for Entergy’s ANO-1, is the recent li-censing of a series of mechanical andstructural analytical tools developed bythe Babcock & Wilcox Owners Group.EPRI will maintain these tools and expandthem with information on other vendordesigns.

Says Young, “From my point of view,having these tools available through EPRIgives us the added benefit of input fromthe entire industry; everyone’s experiencewill be incorporated, making the toolsmore complete and useful to a wider vari-ety of plants. The analytical tools representa key product. When they were B&W’s,we used them in preparing our renewalapplication for ANO-1, and we expect torely on them in future license renewalprojects—for ANO-2 and all the other En-tergy nuclear plants.” Entergy Operations,

an Entergy subsidiary, operatesfive nuclear units in the com-pany’s four-state service area—the two ANO units, Grand Gulfin Mississippi, and River Bendand Waterford 3 in Louisiana.Another subsidiary, Entergy Nu-clear, acquired the Pilgrim plantin Massachusetts and, more re-cently, the Indian Point 3 and

Fitzpatrick units from the New YorkPower Authority.

Entergy submitted its license renewalapplication for ANO-1 in January 2000and is now fielding queries from the NRCstaff. Consistent with the experience at Cal-vert Cliffs and Oconee, Entergy anticipatesNRC approval by January 2002. The sameteam that prepared the ANO-1 renewal ap-plication will begin working around mid-2001 on the application for ANO-2, whichhas a different vendor design than ANO-1.Entergy hopes to submit the ANO-2 appli-cation around the third quarter of 2003.

“As the NRC reviews the ANO-1 appli-cation, we’re being asked about things likeenvironmentally assisted fatigue in reactorcooling system piping, an aging mecha-nism that is still a focus of research,” saysYoung. “That’s the kind of very technicalissue EPRI is helping the industry dealwith. Since we don’t have an expert on thatsubject in our company, we expect to de-pend on EPRI to help us evaluate the re-search data as it becomes available.”

Entergy submitted a license renewalapplication for unit 1 of its ArkansasNuclear One plant in Russellville in Feb-ruary 2000, and it has informed the NRCof its intent to apply for ANO unit 2 in2003 and for all its other nuclear plantsbetween 2003 and 2010. These actionsare in line with a growth strategy thecompany announced in 1998 that isbased on power generation—especiallyon the global development of merchantpower plants and on nuclear poweroperations and management.

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A market for renewal servicesVirtually right out of the gate from theCalvert Cliffs and Oconee extended li-cense approvals, the successful applicantslaunched commercial ventures to markettheir license renewal experience and ex-pertise to other utilities.

Both Constellation Nuclear Services anda joint venture of Duke Engineering &Services (an independent affiliate of DukeEnergy) and Scientech (a nu-clear and industrial servicesfirm) are marketing themselvesas seasoned veterans of the rig-orous license renewal process.Both offer full-scope projectplanning and execution, frominitial plant strategy and deci-sion analysis to the completionof the renewal process, as wellas other strategic engineeringservices. Entergy Nuclear is an-other entrant in the field, hav-ing partnered with FramatomeTechnologies to offer license re-newal services and engineeringto U.S. plants. Other compa-nies also offer license renewaland life-cycle management ser-vices to nuclear utilities.

“These kinds of ventures in-dicate how rapidly license re-newal has matured into a com-mercial reality,” says EPRI’sCarey. The DE&S-Scientechteam says it contributed toeach of the four renewal appli-cations submitted to the NRCso far and is working with fiveother license renewal projectsthat expect to submit applica-tions over the next two years.And Doroshuk of Constella-tion Nuclear reports that hiscompany is working at almostevery U.S. nuclear utility sitepursuing license renewal, aswell as at nuclear plants in Ko-rea and Japan.

The engineering consultingservices of these ventures willcomplement, rather than com-pete with, EPRI’s core R&Dwork, says Doroshuk. “We en-

courage our clients to take maximum ad-vantage of the tools and products EPRI haspublished so that they don’t end up re-inventing the wheel. I see EPRI as a part-ner in license renewal. No company cando it all, even one like ours that has ex-perience in the license renewal business.There are a lot of organizations and com-panies involved in license renewal, andEPRI is one of them.”

Despite two successful license renewalapplications to date, “for anyone to thinkthat license renewal is now a breeze wouldbe a fatal mistake,” says Doroshuk. “It is afederal proceeding with many stakehold-ers involved, and it can be volatile. Ourindustry must pull together and get theproper resources in place to help every ap-plicant get through the process. I tell nu-clear service companies that want to get

involved in license renewal to concentrate on their corecompetencies, like equipmentupgrades, because now that li-censes are starting to be re-newed, we’re seeing signifi-cant capital investments beingmade again. We have to cheereach other on and work to-gether to make this a growthindustry again. The cost offailure to the nation’s economyis enormous.”

Competition’s challenge and opportunityThe positive shift in industrypsychology triggered by theadvent of the plant license re-newal era has inevitably en-couraged some observers andadvocates for the industry toconceptually extrapolate fromrevitalization to rebirth fornuclear power in the UnitedStates. A few utility executiveshave even been heard to sug-gest that an order for a newnuclear generating unit couldbe placed in the foreseeable fu-ture—something that has nothappened in nearly a quartercentury.

Those executives would un-doubtedly hasten to add thatthey are not ready to act justyet. Through most of the nextdecade, nuclear utilities mayhave their plates full obtaininglicense renewals and makingthe investments and upgradesthat will position their exist-ing workhorse plants as com-petitive generators for an ad-

Key EPRI License Renewal and Life-Cycle Management Reports

Calvert Cliffs

● Calvert Cliffs License Renewal Aging Management ReviewReports, TR-110163-CD

● Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Plant Asset Management Case Study,TR-104615

● Calvert Cliffs Life-Cycle Management/License Renewal Program: Reactor Pressure Vessel Evaluation, TR-104509

● Evaluation of EQ Options and Costs for Electrical Equipment for a License Renewal Period for Calvert Cliffs, TR-104063

License Renewal and Aging Management

● Non–Class 1 Mechanical Implementation Guideline and Me-chanical Tools: B&W Owners Group Generic License RenewalProgram, TR-114882

● Aging Effects for Structures and Structural Components: B&WOwners Group Generic License Renewal Program, TR-114881

● Class 1 Structures License Renewal Industry Report, TR-103842● BWR Containments License Renewal Industry Report,

TR-103840● Guidelines to Implement License Renewal Technical Require-

ments, TR-105090 ● Oconee Electrical Component Integrated Plant Assessment

and Time-Limited Aging Analyses for License Renewal,TR-107527

● Basis for the Regulatory Decision on Calvert Cliffs LicenseRenewal Application, TR-107542-CD

● Basis for the Regulatory Decision on Oconee License RenewalApplication, TR-111570-CD

● Component Life Estimation: LWR Structural Materials Degra-dation Mechanisms, NP-5461

Economics

● Valuation and Management of Nuclear Assets: Nuclear Op-tions Model (NOM, Version 1.0), TR-107541

● Life-Cycle Management Economics, TR-104326

Fall 2000 EPRI JOURNAL 15

In the past decade, EPRI has produced a wealth of information on nu-clear plant license renewal and life-cycle management, including about30 reports on the successful Calvert Cliffs program and 10 license re-newal industry reports. Key examples are listed here. These and otherreports can be obtained from EPRI Customer Service, askepri@epri.com,800-313-3774, or from John Carey, jcarey@epri.com, 650-855-2105.

The earliest documented study ofextended nuclear power plant op-eration was initiated by EPRI in

1978 and published the following year.That planning study examined the techni-cal and economic feasibility of operatingnuclear plants beyond their nominal 30-to 40-year life as an alternative to decom-missioning.

No significant technical obstacles thatwould preclude life extension were identi-fied by that or subsequent early studies,but potential long-term aging issues wereidentified. These included reactor pressurevessel integrity, the potential need to re-place electrical cable, and the potentialdeterioration of critical concrete struc-tures like the containment structure.The studies concluded that, comparedwith new construction, extended oper-ation was economically attractive evenwith large expenditures and substantialoutages for plant refurbishment. Thestudies also pointed out that plantswere experiencing a loss of licensedoperating time because licenses weredated from the time a construction per-mit was issued rather than from theplant’s completion date. The resultingcorrective regulatory action added anaverage of six to seven years to plants’operating life.

1983–1987: Pilot plant studiesDetailed pilot plant life extension stud-ies of the Monticello BWR plant ofNorthern States Power and the SurryPWR plant of Dominion Resourcesfound no insurmountable technical issuesfor extended operation. The studies alsodemonstrated favorable economics, with afour-to-one ratio of benefits to costs. Theyconcluded that the costs of managing theaging of critical components, includingcomponent replacement, would be thedetermining factor of a project’s economicfeasibility.

By providing an industry model forother plant-specific life extension studies,the EPRI work resulted in substantially in-creased industry interest in life extension.

The NRC, meanwhile, began an aging pro-gram for nuclear plant electrical compo-nents, which was later expanded to covermechanical and structural components.

1988–1991: Lead plant projects and NRC rulesIn response to industry requests, the NRCbegan to establish criteria for nuclear plantrelicensing in the late 1980s. EPRI initi-ated lead plant license renewal projects atMonticello and Yankee Rowe and helpedshape draft NRC documents published inthose years. EPRI also completed 10 li-

cense renewal industry reports for majorsystems, structures, and components. Thereports provided the basic model for allsubsequent reviews of aging management.It was found that most aging issues werealready managed under existing plant pro-grams. A small number of component ag-ing effects issues were identified thatwould require additional managementduring the extended license term. The reg-ulatory basis for license renewal was es-tablished as the current license basis,which must be maintained during the re-

newal term through adequate aging man-agement for components and structures.

Nuclear plant economics were rapidlychanging during this period, with O&Mcosts increasing substantially. The criticaleconomic test for nuclear license renewalwas not whether it would be superior tonew fossil plant construction, but whethernuclear plant production costs would becompetitive in an unregulated electricitymarket during the renewal term.

Economic and regulatory issues led tothe termination of the Monticello and Yan-kee Rowe projects and to the closure of

Yankee Rowe. Although they did notachieve license renewal, the lead plantprojects helped define the technicalscope of license renewal and acceler-ated the NRC’s establishment of reli-censing criteria.

1991–1998: Calvert Cliffs and OconeeThe NRC’s initial license renewal rule(10 CFR 54) was issued in 1991. EPRIand Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE)launched a life-cycle management pro-gram at Calvert Cliffs to develop a long-term strategic plan. Economic analysesassumed deregulation and demonstratedthat Calvert Cliffs could be competitive.Duke Power initiated a similar licenserenewal effort for Oconee. Three own-ers group programs were begun by util-ities owning Babcock & Wilcox PWRs,Westinghouse PWRs, and General Elec-tric BWRs.

EPRI funded license renewal projectsat Calvert Cliffs and with the B&W Own-ers Group—projects that attempted to im-plement the requirements of 10 CFR 54 onselected systems and components. Thework demonstrated a need to revise the li-cense renewal rule to allow more credit fornormal maintenance. Primarily as a resultof these studies, the NRC amended therule in 1995, limiting the review scope andallowing credit for ongoing managementof the aging of active components. The re-visions also eliminated reference to age-related degradation unique to license re-

The Road to License Renewal

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ditional 20 years. It is more than a lit-tle ironic, however, that the tonic for nu-clear power, viewed by some as emblem-atic of regulated monopolies that makechoices insulated from real-world eco-nomics, would turn out to be the prospectof unbridled competition in a deregulatedmarket. And the patient appears to thriveon the tonic.

“It’s taken the industry 22 years to getfully into the business of license renewaland aging management, but from my per-spective, the money invested in the neces-sary R&D to reach this point has been wellworth it,” says Duke’s Robison. “We neverwould have gotten here if it had not beenfor EPRI continually focusing on the vision,saying that there has got to be a viable,standard way for utility people to thinkabout how to take care of these plants andbe able to renew the licenses.”

“If you operate nuclear plants well,keep them in good running condition, andkeep their capacity factors high, deregula-tion and license renewal provide the op-portunity to make more money fromthem,” says Entergy’s Young. “Deregulationmakes the plants more financially attrac-tive than they would be otherwise. It en-ables a well-run nuclear plant to get into aposition to add to the value of a company.”

Concludes Doroshuk of Constellation

Nuclear, “The industry will go through aperiod of major change in the next 10years. There will be more consolidation ofnuclear operating companies. We see de-regulation and restructuring happening,but inconsistently from state to state. Weall must continue to realize that safety,quality, and reliable operation of theseplants are what got us here today and whatwill get us there tomorrow. So we need tocontinue to meet the expectations of theNRC; to continue to meet the responsibil-ities placed on us by the public and our lo-cal communities to operate these plantssafely; and to team together to meet thechallenges of consolidation, of deregula-tion, and of long-term plant operation. Ithink if we can do that, then nuclear en-ergy as a source of electricity will continueto be part of a diverse fuel mix in theUnited States.” �

Further reading

Davies, M., “Justifying Plant Life Management,” and D. Robinson and N. Broadhead, “Age Concern.” NuclearEngineering International, Vol. 45, No. 549 (April 2000),pp. 16–22.

Fisher, P., “Entergy to Join the License Renewal Queue,”and R. D. MacDougall,“U.S. Nuclear Power—Can Compe-tition Give It Renewed Life?” Nuclear Engineering Interna-tional, Vol. 44, No. 539 (June 1999), pp. 32–37.

Nader, R. N., et al., “How Oconee Plans to Reach 60.”Nuclear Engineering International, Vol. 43, No. 533 (De-cember 1998), pp. 30–34.

Background information for this article was providedby John Carey (jcarey@epri.com).

Fall 2000 EPRI JOURNAL 17

newal and focused reviews on managingthe effects of aging on long-lived passivecomponents and structures. EPRI pub-lished a technical guideline for prepar-ing a license renewal application, andthis was later incorporated into a Nu-clear Energy Institute industry guidelinedocument (NEI 95-10).

Southern Nuclear and Entergy initi-ated license renewal programs for theHatch plant and Arkansas Nuclear Oneunit 1, respectively, and several otherutilities began planning studies. TheNRC published its draft license renewalstandard review plan and its generic en-vironmental impact statement. The lat-ter document substantially limited thenumber of environmental issues thatmust be considered on a plant-specificbasis.

BGE and Duke Power submitted thefirst license renewal applications for Cal-vert Cliffs and Oconee, respectively, in1998. The submittals attracted increasedutility interest and led to the formationof license renewal programs for a num-ber of other nuclear plants.

1999–2004: StandardizationThe NRC set and met an aggressiveschedule (approximately 24 months) forreviewing the Calvert Cliffs and Oconeeplant license renewal applications. Cal-vert Cliffs received a 20-year license re-newal in March 2000 and was followedby Oconee in May 2000; the operatingterm of each plant was thus extended tothe mid-2030s.

EPRI, industry, and NRC efforts arenow focused on standardizing the licenserenewal process and on substantially re-ducing both the cost of preparing a re-newal application and the time requiredfor NRC review. License renewal appli-cations are currently being prepared forapproximately 20 nuclear units. The goalfor application preparation costs is to re-duce them to around $3 million by 2004.NRC reviews will probably take 12–18months, with the length dictated pri-marily by the public process required forreviewing the supplemental environmen-tal impact statement for plant-specific li-cense renewal. �

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The twin-unit, 1848-MW Edwin I. Hatch plant in southeastern Georgia was the first BWR plantto apply to the NRC for license renewal. Southern Nuclear, Hatch’s majority owner and opera-tor, submitted an application in March 2000 for the two plant units, which began operating in1975 and 1979, respectively.

34 EPRI JOURNAL Fall 2000

In the FieldDemonstration and application of EPRI science and technology

GasVue Helps WAPA BringSF6 Leaks to Light

The GasVue camera for locating leaksof sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) dielec-

tric is helping the Western Area PowerAdministration minimize releases of that greenhouse gas from transmissionequipment for a far-flung network of fed-eral hydroelectric plants. WAPA recentlylaunched an aggressive campaign to track

down SF6 leaks in its nearly 17,000-mile(27,000-km) high-voltage system, whichtransmits more than 10 GW of power fromhydro plants in 15 central and westernstates. One of four federal power market-ing agencies, WAPA has among its whole-sale customers rural cooperatives, munici-palities, Native American tribes, and othernonprofit entities.

SF6 has a unique combination of chemi-cal and physical properties that makes itideal as an insulator in circuit breakersand other high-voltage switchgear; how-ever, its efficient absorption of infraredenergy and long atmospheric lifetime alsomake it a potent greenhouse gas, one ofsix targeted by international agreementfor emissions reduction. The U.S. Envi-ronmental Protection Agency has calledfor voluntary participation by electric util-

ities and other industries in efforts toreduce, inventory, and track SF6 emis-sions. WAPA’s campaign seeks not only to detect and repair leaking equipmentbut also to modify maintenance practicesin order to minimize releases.

At the heart of WAPA’s fast-track effortis the GasVue camera, a state-of-the-artbackscattering laser-based system devel-oped with EPRI support by Laser ImagingSystems of Punta Gorda, Florida. The

camera combines a carbondioxide laser (tuned to aninfrared absorption wave-length of SF6) with an elec-tronic infrared imaging sys-tem. As leaking SF6 absorbssome of the laser light thatbounces off a background sur-face, an image of the invisiblegas is produced on the sys-tem’s video display.

“We estimate that we havenearly 750 pieces of SF6-filledequipment and about 200,000

pounds [91,000 kg] of the gas in place,”says Dave Pearson, an environmental pro-tection specialist at WAPA and the coman-ager of its SF6 program. “Finding a cost-effective way to locate leaks was critical tothe program’s success.”

The GasVue camera is proving its worthin the field, thanks to its ability to operate

on energized equipment, says programcomanager and electrical engineer LarryRomero. “It’s an effective maintenancetool because it quickly and accurately lo-cates SF6 leaks, some as small as 2 pounds[0.9 kg] a year, on energized equipment atdistances of up to 60 feet [18 m].” Withtraditional leak detection methods—halo-gen detectors and soapy water—equip-ment must be deenergized.

WAPA’s program incorporates emis-sions training into routine maintenancetraining, stressing the use of emissionstracking data in predicting when andwhere leaks will develop so that mainte-nance schedules can be optimized. Othergoals include preventing equipment fail-ures, reducing SF6 replacement costs, andimproving personnel safety.

WAPA estimates the program’s startupcosts at $65,000 to $80,000, dependingon the level of reduction in SF6 replace-ment expenditures. Annual program costsare estimated at $40,000. “That’s roughly80% less than costs estimated using EPA

guidelines,” notesPearson. “We thinkthat’s good business.”

Inspections with the GasVue camera ateight substations inCalifornia, Colorado,Nebraska, and Wyo-ming have revealedonly minimal leaks—“indicating that ourcurrent maintenancepractices for SF6-filledequipment are effec-tive,” says Romero.

“However, as the cost of SF6 increases andthe emphasis on greenhouse gas emis-sions reduction continues, the need toimprove how we manage this gas willbecome more critical.”

EPRIsolutions offers SF6 leak detectioninspections and demonstrations with theGasVue camera. In addition, the recently

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published Practical Guide to SF6 HandlingPractices (TR-113933), which includesinformation on procedures developed byutilities around the country, can helpensure that handling practices are safe,economical, and environmentally sound.The guide is available through EPRI Cus-tomer Service, 800-313-3774.� For more information, contact Ken Loynes,

kloynes@epri.com, 413-499-5712.

HTS Cable Project, Wire Manufacturing Advance

D etroit Edison has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy

for its leadership in demonstrating newtechnology for high-temperature super-conducting (HTS) power cable in a proj-ect supported by DOE and EPRI. DanReicher, assistant secretary of energy, said at a ceremony last spring that thecompany is playing a key role in advanc-ing the world’s first installation of HTScable on an operating utility system. Suchcable could enable utilities to keep pacewith electricity demand growth in revital-ized downtown areas like Detroit’s whileminimizing infrastructure disruption.

Presenting Detroit Edison officials witha commemorative plaque at the ceremonynear the utility’s Frisbie substation, wherethe 24-kV cable will be installed earlynext year, Reicher applauded the utility’scommitment to the demonstration proj-ect. Noting Detroit Edison’s various effortsto develop clean energy technologies—including fuel cells, landfill gas plants,and solar photovoltaics—and its plantingof millions of trees through the govern-ment’s Climate Challenge program, theassistant energy secretary called the HTScable project “the icing on the cake.”

“Because it is further down the roadtechnologically, it requires a bigger com-mitment for a utility to step up and say‘we are going to do this,’” Reicher said.

But with a utility like Detroit Edison step-ping up and working in partnership withthe government and various companies,he went on, “we actually think we aregoing to move this quickly into use, andthe American people are going to be thebeneficiaries.”

HTS cable, which is supercooled tomake it more efficient than conventionalcable, promises to provide greater systemreliability during periods of high electric-ity use. Learning how such new technol-ogy can work for both a utility and its cus-tomers is an important reason that DetroitEdison is “an eager participant in cutting-edge research and development projectslike this one,” said Robert J. Buckler, pres-ident of DTE Energy Distribution.

Among the other participants in theDetroit demonstration are Pirelli Cablesand Systems, American SuperconductorCorporation (ASC), and Lotepro Corpo-ration. The project is a follow-on effort tothe successful development and testing ofa laboratory prototype HTS cable by Pirelliand EPRI in 1998.

Meanwhile, ASC continues to reportprogress in the commercial developmentof HTS power technology based on itsfirst-generation high-performance wire,which, it says, carries over 100 times theelectric current of copper wire with thesame dimensions. The company recentlyannounced plans for a greenfield wire-manufacturing plant in Massachusettsthat is expected to be in full production(10,000 km per year) in early 2002.

In addition, ASC has invested in thedevelopment of second-generation HTSwire technology in an alliance with EPRIover the past four years. Under thisalliance, ASC has exclusive rights to allEPRI technology on second-generationwire. The company has also obtainedlicenses for key components of second-generation wire technology from OakRidge National Laboratory and the Massa-chusetts Institute of Technology. Theselicenses add to the patents and patent ap-plications generated in ASC’s own labora-tories. The new licensing agreement withOak Ridge is accompanied by an agree-ment on wire R&D that ASC will fund.

According to CEO Greg Yurek, ASC hasachieved world-leading laboratory resultsin short samples with its proprietary tech-nology for low-cost, second-generationHTS wire. “This technology puts us on apath to beat the price-performance char-acteristics of copper wire,” he says.

Adds Paul Grant, an executive scientistat EPRI, “ASC has been successful indeveloping what we believe to be themost commercially advantageous route tomanufacturing second-generation HTSwire, which will open an even bigger market for superconducting products inthe future.” The company plans to fur-ther improve the performance of second-generation wire and to scale up to high-volume production of long-length wiresin the next three to five years.� For more information, contact Paul Grant,

pgrant@epri.com, 650-855-2234.

Fall 2000 EPRI JOURNAL 35

DOE’s Dan Reicher (left) and DTE’s Robert J. Buckler (third from left) tour the substation whereHTS cable will be installed next year.

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To place an order, call EPRI Customer Service at800-313-3774 or 650-855-2121, and press 1 forsoftware or 2 for technical reports. Target fund-ers can download an Acrobat PDF file of a tech-nical report by searching for the report numberon EPRI’s Web site (www.epri.com).

Energy Delivery

Assessment and Inspection Methods (AIM)for Overhead Transmission LinesAP-108212Target: Overhead TransmissionEPRI Project Manager: P. Lyons

Laser-Induced LightningTR-111787-V1Target: Disaster Planning and MitigationTechnologiesEPRI Project Manager: R. Bernstein

Measurements and Modeling of MoistureDynamics in Transformer Insulation UsingInterdigital Dielectrometry SensorsTR-113575Target: Substation O&MEPRI Project Manager: S. Lindgren

Measurement of Ancillary Services FromPower Plants: Regulation, Load Following,and Black StartTR-114246Targets: Grid Planning and Development;Steam Turbines, Generators, and Balance ofPlantEPRI Project Manager: N. Abi-Samra

Review of Emerging Technologies forCondition Assessment of UndergroundDistribution Cable AssetsTR-114333Target: Underground Distribution InfrastructureEPRI Project Manager: B. Bernstein

Applications Guide: Distribution CapacityPlanning With Distributed ResourcesTR-114684Target: Distributed Resources Business StrategyDevelopment (and subtargets)EPRI Project Manager: S. Chapel

Secondary Cable Study: SurveyTR-114735-V1Target: Underground Distribution InfrastructureEPRI Project Manager: B. Bernstein

Slow Release of Fungicides for Wood Poles:Commercialization/Technology TransferTR-114744Target: Distribution SystemsEPRI Project Manager: B. Bernstein

Airborne Inventory and Inspection ofTransmission Lines: AVCAN Systems Corp.’sHelicopter Patrol System (HPS)TR-114773Target: Overhead TransmissionEPRI Project Manager: M. Ostendorp

Application of TRELSS and Implementationof Value-Based Transmission ReliabilityApproach at Polish Power Grid Co.TR-114816Targets: Overhead Transmission; Grid Planningand DevelopmentEPRI Project Manager: N. Abi-Samra

Environment

PISCES Water Characterization Field StudyAP-112433Target: Plant Multimedia Toxics Characteriza-tion (PISCES)EPRI Project Manager: P. Chu

Technical and Economic Evaluation of CoalTar Dense Nonaqueous Phase Liquid(DNAPL) Pumping TechniquesTR-113101Target: MGP Site ManagementEPRI Project Manager: A. Jain

Solid-Phase Biotreatment Studies UsingManufactured Gas Plant SoilsTR-113102Target: MGP Site ManagementEPRI Project Manager: A. Jain

Comparative Carcinogenicity of NickelCompounds: Review of Nickel Toxicity,Pharmacokinetics, and Mode of ActionTR-113883Target: Air Toxics Health and Risk AssessmentEPRI Project Manager: J. Yager

Pilot Study: Occupational Health andSafety Surveillance DatabaseTR-113884Target: Occupational Health and SafetyEPRI Project Manager: J. Yager

Lung Health and Risk Assessment AfterRespirable Fiber ExposureTR-113922Target: Occupational Health and SafetyEPRI Project Manager: L. Goldstein

Tools for Individual-Based Stream FishModelsTR-114006Target: Hydropower Relicensing Environ-mental IssuesEPRI Project Manager: D. Dixon

State-of-the-Science Review of Cyanide andIts Compounds at Former ManufacturedGas Plant SitesTR-114121Target: MGP Site ManagementEPRI Project Manager: A. Quinn

Comprehensive Overview of ScientificFindings From Major Ozone Field Studiesin North America and EuropeTR-114238Target: Tropospheric Ozone and PrecursorsEPRI Project Manager: A. Hansen

Environmental Assets Management Study,Revision 1: Case Study Report for AlliantEnergyTR-114443-R1Target: Environmental Assets ManagementEPRI Project Manager: P. Radcliffe

Literature Review of Background PolycyclicAromatic HydrocarbonsTR-114755Target: MGP Site ManagementEPRI Project Manager: A. Quinn

Accelerated Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Analyses of SamplesFrom Former Manufactured Gas Plant SitesTR-114786Target: MGP Site ManagementEPRI Project Manager: A. Jain

Wavelet Applications for Modeling in theAtmospheric Sciences: Current Status andPotential Extensions (2nd Edition)TR-114838Targets: Tropospheric Ozone and Precursors;Assessment of the Potential Impacts of GlobalClimate ChangeEPRI Project Managers: A. Hansen,M. Wildberger

Fossil and Renewable Generation

Mechanisms for Evaluating the Role ofHydroelectric Generation in AncillaryService MarketsTR-111707Target: Relicensing ForumEPRI Project Manager: C. Sullivan

Role of Heterogeneous Nucleation in theSteam Condensation ProcessTR-113524Target: Steam Turbines, Generators, andBalance of PlantEPRI Project Managers: B. Dooley,T. McCloskey

36 EPRI JOURNAL Fall 2000

Technical Reports & Software

TAG® (Technical Assessment Guide):Supply Side, Vol. 1—1999 Product SlateTR-113722 (see listing under Retail and PowerMarkets)

Assessment of Emission Control Tech-nologies for Distributed Resource OptionsTR-113743Target: Emerging Distributed ResourceTechnologiesEPRI Project Manager: J. O’Sullivan

Gas Turbine Recuperators: Benefits andStatusTR-113745Target: Emerging Distributed ResourceTechnologiesEPRI Project Manager: J. O’Sullivan

Investigation of Ammonia Adsorption on Fly Ash and Potential Impacts ofAmmoniated AshTR-113777Targets: Combustion By-Product Use; SpecialUses for Class C Fly Ash; High-Value Uses ofFly AshEPRI Project Manager: D. O’Connor

Guidelines for Induced Flue Gas Recir-culation, Vol. 1: Reducing Air/Gas System Resistance and Enhancing FanCapacityTR-113815Target: Gas/Oil Boiler Performance/Combus-tion NOx ControlEPRI Project Manager: D. Broske

Reciprocating Engines for Stationary Power Generation: Technology, Products,Players, and Business IssuesTR-113894Target: Ultrahigh-Efficient ReciprocatingEnginesEPRI Project Manager: J. O’Sullivan

Blade Life Management: Coating SystemsTR-113899Target: Combustion Turbine and Combined-Cycle O&MEPRI Project Manager: V. Viswanathan

Mastering the Markets: Gencos in Transition—Business and OrganizationalChange in Power Generation and EnergyTrading CompaniesTR-113998Targets: Understanding Power and Fuel Mar-kets and Generation Response; Fuel Supplyand ProcurementEPRI Project Manager: J. Platt

Assessment of Distributed ResourceTechnologiesTR-114180Target: Emerging Distributed ResourceTechnologiesEPRI Project Manager: D. Herman

Assessment of Microturbines as Distrib-uted GeneratorsTR-114182Target: Microturbine Products and AssessmentsEPRI Project Manager: D. Herman

Environmental Performance, Regulation,and Permitting of Distributed ResourcesTR-114183Target: Distributed Resources Information andTools for Business Strategy DevelopmentEPRI Project Manager: D. Herman

Converting Existing Backup GeneratorsInto Dispatchable System Resources:Assessing the Business CaseTR-114186Target: Converting Existing Backup Power IntoDispatchable System ResourcesEPRI Project Manager: D. Herman

Identifying and Capturing the Green PowerMarket: An EPRI Summary Perspective onU.S. ExperienceTR-114202Target: Renewable Technology Options andGreen Power MarketingEPRI Project Manager: T. Peterson

Building Community Support for LocalRenewable and Green-Pricing ProjectsTR-114203Target: Renewable Technology Options andGreen Power MarketingEPRI Project Manager: T. Peterson

Green Power in Competitive Markets, 1999TR-114210Target: Renewable Technology Options andGreen Power Marketing (and subtargets)EPRI Project Manager: T. Peterson

Green Pricing Update, 1999TR-114211Target: Renewable Technology Options andGreen Power Marketing (and subtargets)EPRI Project Manager: T. Peterson

Measurement of Ancillary Services FromPower Plants: Regulation, Load Following,and Black StartTR-114246 (see listing under Energy Delivery)

Performance and Electrical Characteriza-tion Tests on a Microturbine CommercialPrototypeTR-114270Target: Microturbine Products and AssessmentsEPRI Project Manager: D. Herman

The U.S. Market Potential for MicroturbinesTR-114271Target: Microturbine Products and AssessmentsEPRI Project Manager: D. Herman

Robotic System for the Maintenance ofBoiler Hopper Systems in Power PlantsTR-114419Target: I&C and Automation for Improved PlantOperationsEPRI Project Manager: R. Shankar

Demonstration of an Advanced Soot-blowing Control System: PowerGen’sKingsnorth Power StationTR-114420Target: I&C and Automation for Improved PlantOperationsEPRI Project Manager: R. Shankar

At-the-Burner Combustion MeasurementCase Study Report: Demonstrations ofForney’s OptiFlame and MK Engineering’sMPV-1 Combustion SensorsTR-114719Target: I&C and Automation for ImprovedPlant OperationsEPRI Project Manager: J. Stallings

Materials for Ultrasupercritical Fossil PowerPlantsTR-114750Target: Boiler Life and Availability ImprovementEPRI Project Managers: V. Viswanathan,W. Bakker

Hydro Relicensing Forum: RelicensingStrategiesTR-114809Targets: Hydropower Operations and AssetManagement; Relicensing ForumEPRI Project Manager: M. Bahleda

HydroTrac: Continuous Partial DischargeMonitor for HydrogeneratorsTR-114841Target: Hydropower Operations and AssetManagementEPRI Project Manager: J. Stein

Fourth National Green Power MarketingConference (1999)TR-114878Target: Renewable Technology Options andGreen Power MarketingEPRI Project Manager: T. Peterson

Nuclear Generation

BWR Water Chemistry Guidelines:2000 RevisionTR-103515-R2Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: C. Wood

Steam Generator Integrity AssessmentGuidelines, Revision 1TR-107621-R1Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: M. Merilo

Balance-of-Plant Heat Exchanger ConditionAssessment and Inspection GuideTR-108009Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: K. Krzywosz

Routine Preventive Maintenance Guidancefor ABB HK Circuit BreakersTR-109642 (supersedes NP-7410-V1P2)Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: J. Sharkey

Fall 2000 EPRI JOURNAL 37

Effect of Environment on Fatigue Usage forPiping and Nozzles at Oconee Units 1, 2,and 3TR-110120Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: S. Rosinski

Containment Inspection Program Guide:ASME Section XI, Subsections IWE and IWLAP-110698-R1Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: H. Stephens

Mechanism of Hydrogen Pickup in Zirco-nium Base Alloys, Part 1: Autoradiographyand Out-Reactor Loop TestsTR-111384-P1Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: S. Yagnik

Mechanism of Hydrogen Pickup in Zirco-nium Base Alloys, Part 3: PalladiumCoating TestsTR-111384-P3Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: S. Yagnik

Hydramotor® Actuator Application andMaintenance GuideTR-112181Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: B. Knipschield

Polymer Specimen Removal Techniques forIn-Service CablesTR-112233Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: G. Toman

Guidelines for Application of the EPRIPreventive Maintenance BasisTR-112500Targets: Nuclear Power; Technologies forEquipment Assessment and MaintenanceEPRI Project Manager: M. Bridges

Advanced Freeze Seal Monitoring Technology, Phase 1: Proof-of-PrincipleDemonstrationTR-112594Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: J. Jenco

Revised Risk-Informed In-Service Inspec-tion Evaluation ProcedureTR-112657, Rev. B-ATarget: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: J. Mitman

Condenser In-Leakage GuidelineTR-112819Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: T. Eckert

Waste Logic Software Module forDecommissioningAP-112872Targets: LLW Management; Radiation ExposureManagementEPRI Project Manager: C. Hornibrook

Radwaste Desk Reference, Vol. 5: Trans-portation UpdateTR-112920Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: C. Hornibrook

Containment Decontamination Study:Review of Benefits and Impacts of PWRContainment Decontamination DuringMajor OutagesTR-112921Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: C. Hornibrook

BWR Activity Control: Plant DemonstrationResultsTR-112981Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: H. Ocken

Bearing Technology Topics, Vol. 2TR-113059-V2Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: M. Pugh

Two-Phase Pressure Drop Technology forDesign and AnalysisTR-113189Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: B. Chexal

Stress Corrosion Crack Growth RateMeasurements on Unsensitized Type 304Stainless Steel in 288°C WaterTR-113489Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: L. Nelson

A Refined Model for Prediction of BalancedDisk Globe Valve Thrust RequirementsTR-113558Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: J. Hosler

Proceedings: 1999 EPRI International Low-Level-Waste ConferenceTR-113702Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Managers: C. Hornibrook,S. Bushart

Proceedings: 1999 ASME-EPRI RadwasteWorkshopTR-113703Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Managers: C. Hornibrook,S. Bushart

Directional Stress Indices and StressIntensification Factors for 90° Elbows (PWR Materials Reliability Project)TR-113889Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: R. Carter

Vibration Fatigue Testing of Socket Welds(PWR Materials Reliability Project)TR-113890Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: R. Carter

Evaluation of Capsule PWR-5 (EPRI-CRIEPIIntegrated Reactor Vessel SurveillanceProgram)TR-113891Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: R. Carter

BWR Vessel and Internals Project:BWR Integrated Surveillance Program PlanTR-114228Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: R. Carter

Thermoelectric MaterialsTR-114617Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: J. Stringer

Risk-Informed Inspection for SteamGenerators, Vol. 1: DeterministicPerformance-Based CriteriaTR-114736-V1Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: J. Benson

NP/LOMI Decontamination of the LagunaVerde 2 BWRTR-114742Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: H. Ocken

Improved Cobalt Removal: Compendium ofExperience in Radioactive Cobalt RemovalFrom Liquid StreamsTR-114751Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Managers: C. Hornibrook,S. Bushart

Inspection and Replacement of Baffle toFormer Bolts at Point Beach 2 and Ginna:Processes, Equipment Design, and Equip-ment QualificationTR-114779Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: L. Nelson

Use of KB3 to Develop System Fault Treesfor the TMI-1 PSATR-114880Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: F. Rahn

Aging Effects for Structures and StructuralComponents: Structural Tools (B&WOwners Group Generic License RenewalProgram)TR-114881Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: J. Carey

Non–Class 1 Mechanical ImplementationGuideline and Mechanical Tools (B&WOwners Group Generic License RenewalProgram)TR-114882Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: J. Carey

38 EPRI JOURNAL Fall 2000

GOTHIC: Generation of Thermal-Hydraulic Information in ContainmentsVersion 6.1a (UNIX; Windows 95, NT); 1000159Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: L. Agee

RPVDATA: Reactor Vessel MaterialsDatabaseVersion 2.0 (Windows 95, 98); AP-114785Target: Nuclear PowerEPRI Project Manager: S. Rosinski

Retail and Power Markets

Electric Bus Compendium, Addendum 1AD-111123Target: Public TransportationEPRI Project Manager: L. Sandell

TAG® (Technical Assessment Guide): SupplySide, Vol. 1—1999 Product SlateTR-113722Target: TAG™—Technology-Based BusinessPlanning Information and ServicesEPRI Project Manager: G. Ramachandran

Worldwide Assessment of DistributedResources MarketsTR-114184Target: Worldwide Business and MarketOpportunities in Distributed ResourcesEPRI Project Manager: D. Herman

Role of Distributed Resources in BusinessStrategies for Risk ManagementTR-114185Target: Distributed Resources as a RiskManagement Hedge in Retail PortfoliosEPRI Project Manager: D. Herman

Electric Transportation InformationPackage (ETIP) Final Report, 1999TR-114209Targets: Building an Electric TransportationIndustry; Industrial and Recreational Trans-portationEPRI Project Manager: G. Krein

Commercial Nonintrusive Load MonitoringSystem Beta Test ResultsTR-114236Target: Information and Energy ManagementServices for Commercial and IndustrialCustomersEPRI Project Manager: S. Drenker

Power Electronics in the Printing andPublishing IndustryTR-114242Target: Power ElectronicsEPRI Project Manager: B. Banerjee

Market Appeal of Green Power Tech-nologies: Analysis of Residential EarlyAdoptersTR-114243Target: Profiting From Innovative CustomerTechnologiesEPRI Project Manager: B. Kalweit

Retail Settlement AgentTR-114253-R1Target: Advanced Billing and CustomerOperations SystemsEPRI Project Manager: D. Cain

Custom-ER Billing Engine (CBE)TR-114254Target: Advanced Billing and CustomerOperations SystemsEPRI Project Manager: D. Cain

Retail Billing EngineTR-114254-R1Target: Advanced Billing and CustomerOperations SystemsEPRI Project Manager: D. Cain

Customer Power Quality SolutionsPackage: Laboratory Test ResultsTR-114269Target: Managing Power Quality ProgramsEPRI Project Manager: W. Moncrief

Information to Support DistributionResources Business Strategies: QuantitativeAnalysis of DR OpportunitiesTR-114272Target: Distributed Resources BusinessStrategy DevelopmentEPRI Project Manager: D. Herman

Regional Analysis of Business and Regula-tory Climate for Distributed ResourcesTR-114274Target: Using Distributed Resources to CreateRetail Business Strategic AdvantageEPRI Project Manager: D. Herman

Defining a Value Equation for DistributedResources: Electronic and Health CareIndustriesTR-114566Target: Distributed Resources BusinessStrategy Development (and subtargets)EPRI Project Manager: B. Kalweit

Electric Bus Subscription PurchaseTR-114642Target: Public TransportationEPRI Project Manager: L. Sandell

Hydronic Heating: A Practical OverviewTR-114793Target: Residential and Commercial BusinessDevelopmentEPRI Project Manager: J. Kesselring

Analysis of Aerosol-Based Duct Improve-ment Business in PEPCO’s Service TerritoryTR-114833Target: Residential and Commercial BusinessDevelopmentEPRI Project Manager: J. Kesselring

Contract EvaluatorVersion 1.20 (Windows 95, 98, NT);AP-113198-P2R2Target: Asset and Risk ManagementEPRI Project Manager: A. Altman

MATES 5.0: MedWaste AlternativeTechnology Evaluation SystemVersion 5.0 (Excel); AP-113058Target: Healthcare IndustryEPRI Project Manager: J. Bauch

Strategic Science and Technology

E-Commerce Applications and Issues forthe Power IndustryTP-114659Program: Strategic Science and TechnologyEPRI Project Manager: M. Amin

Complex Interactive Networks/SystemsInitiative: Overview and Progress Reportfor Joint EPRI/DOD University ResearchInitiativeTP-114660Program: Strategic Science and TechnologyEPRI Project Manager: M. Amin

Conceptual Design of a Strategic PowerInfrastructure Defense SystemTP-114661Program: Strategic Science and TechnologyEPRI Project Manager: M. Amin

Intelligent Management of the Power Grid: An Anticipatory, Multiagent, High-Performance Computing ApproachTP-114662Program: Strategic Science and TechnologyEPRI Project Manager: M. Amin

Modeling and Diagnosis Methods forLarge-Scale Complex NetworksTP-114663Program: Strategic Science and TechnologyEPRI Project Manager: M. Amin

Minimizing Failures While MaintainingEfficiency of Complex Interactive Networksand SystemsTP-114664Program: Strategic Science and TechnologyEPRI Project Manager: M. Amin

Context-Dependent Network AgentsTP-114665Program: Strategic Science and TechnologyEPRI Project Manager: M. Amin

From Power Laws to Power Grids:A Mathematical and ComputationalFoundation for Complex InteractiveNetworksTP-114666Program: Strategic Science and TechnologyEPRI Project Manager: M. Amin

Proceedings: EPRI Workshop on Conditionand Remaining Life Assessment of Hot Gas Path Components of CombustionTurbines1000044Program: Strategic Science and TechnologyEPRI Project Manager: V. Viswanathan

Fall 2000 EPRI JOURNAL 39

40 EPRI JOURNAL Fall 2000

October

8–11Gasification Technologies ConferenceSan Francisco, CaliforniaContact: Neville Holt, 650-855-2503

10–12ASME Section XI Flaw EvaluationCharlotte, North CarolinaContact: Sherryl Stogner, 704-547-6174

10–12Neural Networks and Fuzzy Logic ControlWith Engineering ApplicationsKingston, TennesseeContact: Sherryl Stogner, 704-547-6174

10–13RCM, Xvisor, MMW, and PDM Users Groups;SIM and IMD Working GroupWashington, D.C.Contact: Marjorie Morales, 650-855-2254

16–20Visual Examination: Level 1Charlotte, North CarolinaContact: Sherryl Stogner, 704-547-6174

17–19NOx Controls for Utility BoilersArlington, VirginiaContact: Barbara McCarthy, 650-855-2127

18–19Power Transformer and HVCT WorkingGroupNiagara Falls, CanadaContact: Marjorie Morales, 650-855-2254

18–19TFLASH 6.0 Training Seminar and UsersGroup MeetingLenox, MassachusettsContact: Kyle King, 413-448-2459

18–20Value and Risk TrainingAtlanta, GeorgiaContact: Maria Ramirez, 650-855-2621

19–20Advanced In-Service Inspection and Testingof Live-Line ToolsLenox, MassachusettsContact: Marjorie Morales, 650-855-2254

19–20Advanced Techniques for ProvidingEquipotential Zones for Live-Line WorkersLenox, MassachusettsContact: Marjorie Morales, 650-855-2254

19–20Live-Line Working and NonceramicInsulatorsLenox, MassachusettsContact: Marjorie Morales, 650-855-2254

19–20Live-Working Application GuideLenox, MassachusettsContact: Marjorie Morales, 650-855-2254

19–20Tools to Satisfy New OSHA Rules for Live WorkingLenox, MassachusettsContact: Marjorie Morales, 650-855-2254

23–26Tropospheric Aerosols: Science andDecisions in an International CommunityQuerétaro, MexicoContact: Alan Hansen, 650-855-2738

23–27Simulator Instructor TechniquesCharlotte, North CarolinaContact: Richard Pennington, 704-547-6105

23–November 3Ultrasonic Examination: Level 2Charlotte, North CarolinaContact: Sherryl Stogner, 704-547-6174

24–25Joint Technical Workshop: UWIG/TVP/WindPowering AmericaMorgantown, West VirginiaContact: Genesia Oliver, 650-855-2436

24–25Power Quality Interest GroupKnoxville, TennesseeContact: Marsha Grossman, 650-855-2899

24–27Short Course on Closed Feedwater HeatersCharlotte, North CarolinaContact: Sherryl Stogner, 704-547-6174

31–November 1Motor-Generator Rewind SeminarFarmington, New MexicoContact: Jim Oliver, 909-735-5239

November

1–2Adjustable-Speed-Drive ApplicationsKnoxville, TennesseeContact: Lynn Stone, 972-556-6529

1–3Forward Curve Introductory TrainingMaui, HawaiiContact: Maria Ramirez, 650-855-2621

4–5NMAC Shaft Alignment WorkshopCharlotte, North CarolinaContact: Linda Parrish, 704-547-6061

6Surge Arrester Testing and MonitoringLenox, MassachusettsContact: Marjorie Morales, 650-855-2254

6–7Simulator Specification and Procure-ment WorkshopCharlotte, North CarolinaContact: Richard Pennington, 704-547-6105

6–10Advanced Power Line Structural Analysisand Design MethodsHaslet, TexasContact: Gayle Robertson, 817-439-5900

6–10NDE for EngineersCharlotte, North CarolinaContact: Sherryl Stogner, 704-547-6174

7–10Simulator Acceptance Testing ProceduresCharlotte, North CarolinaContact: Richard Pennington, 704-547-6105

8–9FACTS Information Sharing and UpdatesSouth Padre Island, TexasContact: Marjorie Morales, 650-855-2254

8–9Hierarchical Control of Multiple FACTSDevicesSouth Padre Island, TexasContact: Marjorie Morales, 650-855-2254

8–9Improved Solid-State ValvesSouth Padre Island, TexasContact: Marjorie Morales, 650-855-2254

8–9Unified Power Flow ControllerSouth Padre Island, TexasContact: Marjorie Morales, 650-855-2254

8–9Uninterruptible SubstationSouth Padre Island, TexasContact: Marjorie Morales, 650-855-2254

EPRI Events

Fall 2000 EPRI JOURNAL 41

13–15Balance-of-Plant Heat Exchanger NDE and Condition Assessment forEngineersCharlotte, North CarolinaContact: Sherryl Stogner, 704-547-6174

13–17Visual Examination: Level 2Charlotte, North CarolinaContact: Sherryl Stogner, 704-547-6174

27–December 1Ultrasonic Examination: Level 3Charlotte, North CarolinaContact: Sherryl Stogner, 704-547-6174

28–29DayCor Camera Training SeminarLenox, MassachusettsContact: Judy MacPherson, 413-499-5701

December

4–6Dynamic Rating for Overhead LinesLenox, MassachusettsContact: Marjorie Morales, 650-855-2254

4–6Effect of High-Temperature OperationLenox, MassachusettsContact: Marjorie Morales, 650-855-2254

4–611th National Energy Services ConferenceNew Orleans, LouisianaContact: Ann Iverson, 650-855-1062

4–6NDE Technical Skills Training: Level 3 BasicCharlotte, North CarolinaContact: Sherryl Stogner, 704-547-6174

4–6Transformers: PTLOADLenox, MassachusettsContact: Marjorie Morales, 650-855-2254

4–8Instructor Station OperationsCharlotte, North CarolinaContact: Richard Pennington, 704-547-6105

4–8NDE Instructor TrainingCharlotte, North CarolinaContact: Sherryl Stogner, 704-547-6174

4–8Operations Training for Nonoperators(Fossil Plants)Kingston, TennesseeContact: Sherryl Stogner, 704-547-6174

5–6Reliability Initiative MeetingPhoenix, ArizonaContact: Laura Ramos, 650-855-7919

5–7Advanced Power Quality TrainingKnoxville, TennesseeContact: Lynn Stone, 972-556-6529

5–7Transmission Line Inspection TrainingSeminarHaslet, TexasContact: Gayle Robertson, 817-439-5900

5–8Maintenance and Repair of Heat Exchanger EquipmentCharlotte, North CarolinaContact: Sherryl Stogner, 704-547-6174

6–8NDE Technical Skills Training: Level 3 SpecificCharlotte, North CarolinaContact: Sherryl Stogner, 704-547-6174

11Fundamentals of CorrosionKey West, FloridaContact: Brent Lancaster, 704-547-6017

11–15Digital I&C UpgradeCharlotte, North CarolinaContact: Sherryl Stogner, 704-547-6174

11–15Visual Examination: Level 3Charlotte, North CarolinaContact: Sherryl Stogner, 704-547-6174

12–14Corrosion and Degradation ConferenceKey West, FloridaContact: Brent Lancaster, 704-547-6017

12–14Distribution Business Planning WorkshopPalo Alto, CaliforniaContact: Andrea Duerr, 650-855-2719

13–15Energy Book Workshop and Interest Group MeetingAtlanta, GeorgiaContact: Maria Ramirez, 650-855-2621

January 2001

7–13SCS (Society for Computer Simulation)Conference and EPRI Simulator andTraining Center Interest Group MeetingPhoenix, ArizonaContact: Richard Pennington, 704-547-6105

8–10Fourth Biannual Electric UtilitiesEnvironmental ConferenceTucson, ArizonaContact: www.euec.com

15–17Balance-of-Plant Heat Exchanger NDE and Condition Assessment forEngineersCharlotte, North CarolinaContact: Sherryl Stogner, 704-547-6174

15–19Electrohydraulic Controls Workshop andSteam Turbine Generator Users GroupNew Orleans, LouisianaContact: Linda Parrish, 704-547-6061

16–18Modifying and Maintaining Structures and Conductors in Transmission LineUpratingHaslet, TexasContact: Gayle Robertson, 817-439-5900

16–18Utility Generator Predictive Maintenanceand Refurbishment ConferenceNew Orleans, LouisianaContact: Barbara McCarthy, 650-855-2127

22–24Pressure Relief Device Users GroupOrlando, FloridaContact: Linda Parrish, 704-547-6061

22–25AK/AKR and Magne-Blast Circuit BreakerUsers GroupNew Orleans, LouisianaContact: Linda Parrish, 704-547-6061

30–February 1Heat Rate Improvement in a DeregulatedEnvironmentDallas, TexasContact: Barbara McCarthy, 650-855-2127

February

5–9Infrared Thermography: Level 1Kingston, TennesseeContact: Sherryl Stogner, 704-547-6174

18–21Substations Equipment DiagnosticsConferenceNew Orleans, LouisianaContact: Marjorie Morales, 650-855-2254

June

4–6Industrial and Recreational TransportationConferenceLa Jolla, CaliforniaContact: Laura Ramos, 650-855-7919

12–14PQA 2001 North AmericaPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaContact: Barbara McCarthy, 650-855-2127