Answer 4 I reiterate my point that the HTGR is about ten years behind the ALWR because of the need for an approximately ten-yearlong HTGR demonstration project to precede NRC design certification. Such a demonstration project is not required for the ALWR. Question 5 COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES Following up on the discussion at the hearing on the Also, I have been told that, with the HTGR, there would be a Answer: Your concerns about meltdown, graphite fires, and a Answer 5 -2 of high temperature fuel, and the control of pathways for fission product transport to the environs. The graphite fire potential was evaluated by the NRC (with assistance from Brookhaven National Laboratory) during the Fort St. Vrain licensing process, following the Chernobyl accident and in the course of its preapplication review for the MHTGR. The NRC states that it believes that air availability pathways, including flow channels in the core, would not support a sustained or damaging graphite fire even if a containment structure was not provided. The NRC states that confirmatory experiments might be desirable but has not yet stated this as a requirement. The Department is renewing interactions with the NRC and the subject of graphite fires will be included in these forthcoming discussions. QUESTIONS FROM SENATOR WALLOP ALMR Question 6(a): Would you agree that the long-term promise of nuclear energy is essentially unlimited through the development of advanced liquid metal reactor technologies? Answer: It was recognized early in the development of nuclear power centuries. |