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Breadcrumb

  1. Research
  2. Energy Resiliency
  3. Nuclear Energy
  4. Reactor Operations

Reactor
Operations

Maintaining safe nuclear
reactor operations

Scientists at PNNL investigate how materials degrade in extreme environments, helping assure that the life of existing nuclear power reactors can be extended safely. With nuclear energy industry partners, PNNL also investigates aging electrical cables (pictured), develops radiation-tolerant materials for Generation IV reactors, and researches the science of stress corrosion and crack initiation and growth—all utilizing expertise and equipment based in the Radiological Exposures & Metrology Laboratory and the Radiochemical Processing Laboratory.

Andrea Starr | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

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Commercial nuclear reactors in the U.S. must continue to operate safely, reliably, and economically throughout their lifetimes. PNNL helps meet these objectives through expertise in a wide range of disciplines, including engineering, materials science, chemistry, instrumentation and control, risk assessment, environmental science, social science, physical security, and cybersecurity. This work is supported by the Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), commercial sponsors, and partner national laboratories.

Detecting and withstanding materials degradation  

Materials scientists at PNNL investigate how materials degrade, helping assure that the life of existing reactors can be extended safely and that new materials can be deployed in advanced reactors. PNNL has the world's leading researchers in the science of stress corrosion and crack initiation and growth. They use test rigs to collect material property and degradation data needed to develop degradation models and strategies for detection and intervention. PNNL also stewards state-of-the-art post-irradiation examination to understand how components and materials used in reactors degrade and/or fail.

With industry partners, PNNL investigates aging electrical cables and develops radiation-tolerant materials for the next generation of advanced reactors. Our experts have been working with the NRC since 1977 to resolve emerging challenges and proactively conduct non-destructive evaluation material characterization for the nuclear energy industry.

Central to this research are PNNL’s Radiochemical Processing Laboratory, a Hazard Category 2 non-reactor facility for advancing radiological material processes and solutions; the Materials Science and Technology Building; the Non-Destructive Evaluation Laboratory; and the Radiological Exposure and Metrology Calibration and Standards Laboratory.

File

PNNL's Aging Management of Nuclear Facility Materials and Components (PDF)
The High Temperature Water Stress Corrosion Cracking Evaluation Laboratory at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is one of the largest facilities in the world used to examine stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior of materials used for nuclear reactors. Each test system replicates specific water chemistries and load stresses on a metal while measuring its crack growth or crack formation rate in real-time. The data helps determine inspection intervals for certain reactor structures such as the welds that join water flow piping to the reactor vessel. (Video by the Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy)

Probabilistic risk assessment

PNNL nuclear experts conduct risk assessments and safety analyses that underpin the limiting conditions for safe reactor operations, administrative programs, and controls. These experts emphasize decision science, probabilistic risk assessments (PRAs), and systematic analyses that reveal the strengths and weaknesses of the design, construction, operation, and siting of nuclear plants.

PNNL PRA methods have been applied to risk-informed reactor design, to extending NRC’s significance determination process regarding passive components, to reviewing risk-informed license amendment applications to NRC, to the storage and transportation of spent nuclear fuel, and to assessments of external plant hazards, such as flooding and earthquakes.

File

Risk and Decision Analysis

File

PNNL Seismic Hazard Analysis flyer 2021

Cybersecurity

PNNL staff have expertise in cybersecurity and nuclear power plant operations, including policy development, new technologies, assessments and inspections, and capacity development. PNNL has planned and supported NRC cybersecurity inspections of all licensed facilities. For the IAEA, researchers have developed and delivered training on the security of industrial control systems, radiological materials facilities, and other topics. PNNL researchers also worked with the NRC and IAEA to develop policy and guidance on cybersecurity program inspections, incident response, and other issues.

In addition, our award-winning Physical and Cyber Risk Analysis Tool (PACRAT) software helps nuclear plant personnel assess risks of coordinated cyber and physical attacks.

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Nuclear Energy Cyber Security Capabilities and Technology

Recent News

JULY 1, 2024
Staff Accomplishment

Brooks Receives Department of Energy Award for Information Security

Read
Kriston Brooks
MARCH 1, 2024
Staff Accomplishment

Curiosity and Courage Leads to Career in Nuclear Materials

Read
Isabella J van Rooyen
DECEMBER 20, 2023
Staff Accomplishment

Waste Management Symposia Selects PNNL Experts for Key Roles

Read
David Peeler (left), Harish Gadey (center), and Tom Brouns (right) with the WMS24 logo
SEE MORE RELATED NEWS

Facilities

Radiochemical Processing Laboratory 318 Building Shallow Underground Laboratory

Related Research

Cybersecurity Materials Sciences Radiation Measurement Nuclear & Particle Physics

Brochures

File

PNNL Seismic Hazard Analysis flyer 2021

File

PNNL Environmental Justice informational flyer 2021

File

PNNL Human Factors brochure 2021

Related Links

Post-Fukushima ActivitiesNondestructive Examination (NDE)Cybersecurity for Nuclear EnergyMaterials Science & Stress Corrosion Cracking

Contacts

Mark Nutt
Manager, Nuclear Energy Market Sector
mark.nutt@pnnl.gov
509-375-2984
Katie Wagner
Manager, Nuclear Regulatory Subsector; Program Manager, Energy & Environment Directorate
katie.wagner@pnnl.gov
509-375-2387
Ali Zbib
Manager, Nuclear Industry Programs; Group Leader, Reactor Materials
ali.zbib@pnnl.gov
(509) 372-4034

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