ifnec idwg workshop on nuclear energy beyond electricity

© 2019 URENCO Limited

IFNEC IDWG workshop on Nuclear Energy Beyond Electricity:

Next Generation Fuels and

U-Battery Small Modular Reactor

Chris White

Director, Government AffairsURENCO Limited

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Discussion Points

1. How will the front-end nuclear fuel cycle evolve?

2. What are the challenges?

3. URENCO Capability

4. Introduction to U-Battery – Small Modular Reactor

5. Closing Remarks

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Today’s front-end nuclear fuel cycle

LWR fuels

LEU-UO2-ZircAlloy

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The future nuclear fuel supply chain

Existing nuclear fuel supply chain

Mining Conversion Enrichment Fabrication Back EndU3O8

0.711%

UF6

<5%

LEUUO2

Spent

fuel

LWR reactorsUO2 / ZircAlloy fuels

Fabrication0.711%

UF6

<5%

LEU

Next Generation Fuels

TRISO,

Uranium Nitride,

Uranium Silicide,

U-metal Alloys

UF4 Salts

Gen III+, ATFsSMRs, GenIV,

Advanced ReactorsResearch & Test Reactors

Gaps in the Future Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain

Enrichment5%-20%

LEU+/HA-LEU

U-metal

U-oxide

U-salts

Higher

EnrichmentDeconversion

TransportPackage

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Discussion Points




4. U-Battery – Small Modular Reactor

5. Closing Remarks

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The HA-LEU Community

High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HA-LEU) & LEU+

• HA-LEU refers to enrichment in the range of 5.0% to 19.99% U235

• URENCO uses the term LEU+ to refer to UF6 enriched above the current 5% limit

for civil nuclear production subject to regulatory approval

A broad community of users will benefit from HA-LEU & LEU+

• Operators of existing LWRs seeking improvements in reactor economics through

higher burn-up rates and extended operating cycles

• The introduction of Accident Tolerant Fuels (ATF) improved economics

• Gen IV and other advanced reactor designs

• Advanced fuel designs

• Research and test reactors

• Producers of targets for medical isotope production

Fuel solutions are needed across the full span of HA-LEU enrichments.

• Some ‘clumping’ may develop in the ranges of:

6.0% - 8.0% U235; 13.0 -16.0% U235; and at 19.75% U235

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HA-LEU fuel cycle requirements

A sustainable HA-LEU fuel cycle includes three fundamental capabilities:

1. Higher Enrichment Facility

• to produce HA-LEU in the form of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) up to 19.75%

2. Deconversion Facility

• to (de)convert HA-LEU UF6 into U-metal, U-oxides and/or U-salts

3. Fabrication Facilities

• to manufacture the specific fuel types required by the various reactor designs

Packaging and transportation solutions are also required

• A certified transport package (cylinder and protective overpack) will need to be

developed to store and transport production volumes of HA-LEU as UF6

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Discussion Points





5. Closing Remarks

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Almelo, The Netherlands

Capacity: 5,300 tSW/year

Gronau, Germany


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URENCO – A Global Supplier 18,800 tSW/year

Capenhurst, UK


Eunice, USA


Head Office

Stoke Poges, United Kingdom

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Potential HA-LEU enrichment at

URENCO sites

• There are no treaty considerations or restrictions associated with HA-LEU production

in Europe or the US.

• URENCO’s existing advanced gas centrifuges are capable of producing the full span

of HA-LEU enrichments without further development or testing.

• We estimate that if detailed design, site permits, and contractor selection were

undertaken in parallel with the regulatory licensing process, we could construct,

commission and start-up a HA-LEU production unit within 24 months of regulatory

licensing approval.

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• On February 5, 2019 URENCO USA

Inc. announced its capability in the

provision of high assay low enriched

uranium (HA-LEU), for civil, peaceful

applications in existing and new power

plants as well as for research, test and

medical isotopes facilities.

• URENCO is now exploring the

construction of a dedicated HA-LEU unit

at its UUSA facility.

• Further activity at UUSA is underway to

support the near-term delivery of slightly

greater than 5% U235 enrichments for

existing light water reactors interested in

higher burn-up rates and/or extended

operating cycles.

URENCO USA Inc. announcement

+++++ PRESS RELEASE +++++

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Discussion Points



3. URENCO USA Inc. – The National Enrichment Facility


5. Closing Remarks

U-Battery – Micro Modular Reactor

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At a glance:

• Single unit - produces 10MWt which can be delivered in a CoGen configuration with up to 4MWe electricity or 750 °C process heat.

• Gas cooled - Helium in primary circuit, Nitrogen in secondary circuit (no water).

• High integrity TRISO fuel - enables simplicity of design.

• Construction - Adaptable modular configuration to meet local needs. It can be installed above or below ground.

• Flexible - Installation can be single or in multiple units.

Key to layout1. Turbine Generator2. Heat Exchanger3. Reactor pressure Vessel4. Maintenance Floor5. Fuel Cartridge Store6. Fuel Store Ventilation7. Fuel Handling Facility8. Control Room

U-Battery – Markets & Applications

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Remote Locations

Heavy Industry

Nuclear Backup

Specific Purposes

Initial Strategic Markets

U-Battery – Intrinsically Safe Fuel

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Discussion Points



3. URENCO USA Inc. – The National Enrichment Facility


5. Closing Remarks

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Closing Remarks

1. It is imperative that the enrichment, deconversion and fabrication

facilities - and the concordant packaging solutions - be developed

on concurrent schedules

2. Regulatory resources are required to support the licensing

framework needed for the development of a HA-LEU fuel cycle

3. The timing of front-end fuel cycle development for next generation

fuels must match the forecast aggregate demand of advanced

reactor vendors coming to market

4. Companies making investments in HA-LEU facilities need to be

sufficiently assured of a reasonable and necessary economic

return

5. There is a role for national Governments and NGOs to both

stimulate and facilitate this exciting next phase in the growth of

the nuclear industry


Thank You

For additional information on URENCO’s Next Generation Fuels or U-Battery SMR, please contact:

Chris WhiteDirector, Government Affairse: [email protected]: +44 (0)7789 941833

mailto:[email protected]

ifnec idwg workshop on nuclear energy beyond electricity

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