Perspective on the ASTM Roadmap for Supporting Civil Nuclear Energy Plants

Workshop on EmergingTrends in Nuclear Energy –The Standards Component

June 15, 2011

Introduction• NESCC formed to support Nuclear Energy

– ASTM and NRC are participants.

• January 2011 ASTM survey to gain members’ input on needed standards actions.

• Next steps: Create the ASTM Roadmap or providing the needed support

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ASTM Roadmap for Civil Nuclear Energy Plants

Background• In the early 1980s, NRC (Chuck Serpan) asked

ASTM E10 (Len Steele) to address list of issues via development of standards.

• 25 years later, the “Nuclear Renaissance” is on the horizon and NESCC has been formed to assist it.

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ASTM Roadmap for Civil Nuclear Energy Plants

Background (continued)• NESCC established (4/30/09) to foster needed

standards and technology

– included NRC/ASTM goal to identify key actions by ASTM to address critical NRC needs in support of current and future nuclear plant designs.

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ASTM Roadmap for Civil Nuclear Energy Plants

Objectives1. Review perspective on what SDOs need to do in

order to create the ASTM Roadmap.

2. Summarize points from ASTM survey as they pertain to the ASTM Roadmap.

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ASTM Roadmap for Civil Nuclear Energy Plants

First Objective• Identify what likely has to be done in order to

create the ASTM Roadmap.

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Perspective on ASTM Roadmap

Purpose of the Roadmap• Literally, the roadmap provides a strategic plan for

getting to the intended destination.• The strategic plan should have:

– A vision statement. – Goals and aspirations for the near term (e.g., 1-3

years), medium term (e.g., 3-5 years) and long term (e.g., 5-10 years).

– Specific assigned actions with metrics to judge success in attaining each defined goal and aspiration.

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Perspective on ASTM Roadmap

Purpose of the Roadmap (continued)• Start with the long term vision.• Then build the list of goals and aspirations.

– The Roadmap needs to be unique to ASTM and specific to nuclear power.

Critical that vision be shared with NRC– Also important to get buy-in from other NESCC

participants that ASTM is appropriate organization to undertake those items.

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Perspective on ASTM Roadmap

Roadmap Process• Initial step: Define vision.

• Identify ASTM Committees with expertise involved with issue.

• Identify needs:

– Get input from NRC and ASTM committees, via ASTM membership survey

– Compile list of ASTM standards cited in NRC Regulations, Nuclear Codes and Standards.

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Perspective on ASTM Roadmap

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ASTM Roadmap - Summary

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ASTM Roadmap - Summary

Second Objective• Summarize points from January 2011 ASTM survey

as they pertain to the ASTM Roadmap.

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Overview of ASTM Survey

Committees responding to or cited in ASTM Survey

• A01 (A01.06) Steel and Stainless Steel • B5 Copper and Copper Alloys • D18 Soil and Rock• D19 (D19.04) Water/Radiochemical Analysis• D33 Protective Coating and Lining/Power Gen.• E08 Fatigue and Fracture• E10 (E10.02 and E10.05) Nuclear Technology and

Applications.• E48 Biotechnology

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Overview of ASTM Survey

Potential Resources• Vessel forging specifications (A508, A541, A723, A965)

are responsibility of subcommittee A01.06.• Fracture and fatigue standards with nuclear applications

are responsibility of Committee E08.• Reactor vessel integrity and neutron metrology

standards are responsibility of Committee E10, and previously has worked with NRC on regulatory needs.

• D33 is working on NIST/NESCC project for concrete codes and standards.

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Overview of ASTM Survey

General Observations• Various subcommittees (D19.04, E10, D33)

reported active involvement or representation by NRC; often reported desire for more NRC participation.

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Overview of ASTM Survey

Potential ASTM Actions - New Plant Designs• For passive reactor designs (e.g., AP1000), some follow-

up suggested on containment vessel coatings for thermal conductivity or coating weight; and technology with respect to treatment of corrosion product buildup on coating.

• Consideration of buried piping, modular design, torsional shear testing, and aging of coatings.

• Consideration of component material specifications for international applications – clarity of interpretation by non-English speaking fabricator.

• Consideration of specifications for new material applications (since cannot base performance on current plant experience).

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Overview of ASTM Survey

Potential ASTM Actions – Operating Plants• Check for consistency in citing standards between NRC,

DOE, EPA and Homeland Security (Agreement States) and for use of current versions of ASTM standards in Nuclear Codes.

• Assess need to update ASTM specifications on reagent water and for non-destructive fuel assay techniques.

• Determine need for updated fracture toughness testing standards, nuclear fuel reprocessing and test protocols, neutron detector and radiochemical analysis technology and standards for high strength rebar.

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Overview of ASTM Survey

Potential Communication Paths• Symposiums and workshops with invitations to

academics.• Certification and training (for which ASTM can add

specific value).• Collaboration with other organizations (NACE, ASME,

ASCE, ASFE, NSSS vendors, academia) in the preceding and to execute the ASTM Roadmap.

• Recurring theme: “The more others are involved, the better the end result.”

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Overview of ASTM Survey

Summary• Process underway to identify key ASTM committees

involved with standards for the civil nuclear power industry and for examining NRC regulations for citations to ASTM standards.

• Numerous potential actions identified in ASTM Survey. – Some Subcommittees are already addressing

identified gaps.• Need to identify potential gaps and to get agreement of

their significance to the Nuclear Renaissance and, hence, to their place in the ASTM Roadmap.

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Perspective on the ASTM Roadmap for Civil Nuclear Energy Plants

Summary (continued)• This Workshop is one step in process to create the

ASTM Roadmap for civil nuclear energy.• It is important for the NRC and ASTM:

– to work together to define the gaps and – to create the ASTM Roadmap and manage it to fill

key gaps on a timely basis.

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Perspective on the ASTM Roadmap for Civil Nuclear Energy Plants

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“The more others are involved, the better the end result.”

Questions?

Perspective on the ASTM Roadmap for Civil Nuclear Energy Plants