Strategies to facilitate plant commercialization

There are two current sets of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations for the licensing of nuclear power plants in the United States [8]  

The regulations contained in 10 CFR Part 50 have been used to license current generation light water reactors (LWRs) in the U S A. The regulations in 10 CFR Part 52 provide for many options. Subpart B — Standard design certifications discusses the requirements for testing. In particular. Part 52.47 Contents of applications states  

The items beginning with (B) above refer to acceptable testing of an appropriately sited, full-size prototype of the design over a sufficient range of normal operating conditions, transient conditions, and specified accident sequences, including equilibrium core conditions . This approach is an example of what is referred to as license-by-test. There is no experience with any applications proposing license-by-test under 10 CFR Part 52 [8]. 

A hallmark of most of the concepts is rapid site assembly of a modularized turnkey plant, a strategy well suited to meet customer needs in off-grid locations where fossil fuel delivery is difficult and, potentially, in developing countries with rapidly growing populations. 

Refuelling intervals range from 4.5 years to 60 years, and all concepts could be offered with vendor supplied full-scope fuel cycle services. 

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This chapter also summarizes the design approaches and technical features for the nearer and longer term concepts, outlines the scope of further necessary R D, provides an assessment of timelines of readiness for deployment for certain groups of the concepts, and reflects on the strategies to facilitate plant commercialization. 

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