Dale E. Klein, Ph.D., P.E.

Assoc. Vice Chancellor for Research – The University of Texas System

Associate Director – Energy Institute, The University of Texas at Austin

Things Nuclear Including Fukushima

Presented to Tom Edgar’s Energy Class – Department of Engineering The University of Texas at Austin

November 29, 2011

Outline

• World Nuclear Energy

• U.S. Nuclear Energy

• Fukushima

• Questions

China alone is building 21 new plants.

Construction at Qinshan, China

Around the world, 61 new plants are scheduled to open by 2015

3

Reactors by Plant Design

ESBWRDTE

US ABWRSouth Texas Project

AP1000DukeTVA

ProgressSouth Carolina E&G

Southern Co.Florida Power & LIght

EPRAmeren UE

UniStarPPL Generation

US APWRLuminantDominion

Early Site PermitEXELON

4

What is different today?

1. Improved licensing process 2. Brownfield sites

South Texas Nuclear Power Plant

5

Unit 5 Unit 6

Unit 1Unit 2Unit 3

Unit 4

Fukushima

6

Event Initiation• The Fukushima nuclear facilities

were damaged in a magnitude 9.0 earthquake on March 11 (Japan time), centered offshore of the Sendai region, which contains the capital Tokyo.– Plant designed for magnitude 8.2

earthquake. An 9.0 magnitude quake is 8 times greater in magnitude.

• Serious secondary effects followed including a significant tsunami, significant aftershocks and a major fire at a fossil fuel installation.

• The Fukushima nuclear facilities were damaged in a magnitude 9.0 earthquake on March 11 (Japan time), centered offshore of the Sendai region, which contains the capital Tokyo.– Plant designed for magnitude 8.2

earthquake. An 9.0 magnitude quake is 8 times greater in magnitude.

• Serious secondary effects followed including a significant tsunami, significant aftershocks and a major fire at a fossil fuel installation.

7

Serious Secondary Effects

8

1Seawater Pump

Elevation: about 10m

TurbineBuilding

① ②＋ ⇒ Station Black Out

Tsunami (estimated more than 10m)

Grid Line

② D/G Inoperable due to Tsunami flood

D/G

Seawater level

① Loss of offsite power due to the earthquake

All Motor Operated pumps (including ECCS pumps) became inoperable

ReactorBuilding

9

Fuel AssemblyFuel Rod – metal pipe contains 350 pellets and is plugged on each end.

Pellet – Uranium powder is baked into pellet form. About 8 grams of these pellet can produce electricity for a normal household for approximately 8 months.

72 Fuel Rods are bundled.

Plant Design

ContainmentBuilding Structure

11

12

Service Floor

12

Accident ProgressionMeasured, and here referenced liquid level is the collapsed level. The torus level is higher due to the steam bubbles in the liquid.

~50% of the core exposed

Cladding temperatures rise, but still no significant core damage

~2/3 of the core exposed

Cladding temperature exceeds ~900 oC

Ballooning / Breaking of the cladding

Release of fission products from the fuel rod gaps

Accident Progression

Explosion

Fukushima

Unit 5 Unit 6

Unit 1Unit 2Unit 3

Unit 4

16

Units 1-4

1

3

2

4

17

Likely Outcomes

• Station Blackout• Spent Fuel Storage• Multiple Units, not just a single unit• New Plants

• United States• Germany/Italy• China• India• United Arab Emirates

18

Questions?