NUMARK Selected to Support US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Evaluation of Section III, Division 5 of the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code
September 26, 2018 -- NUMARK Associates, Inc. is pleased to announce its selection by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to provide technical support to NRC as it considers the possible endorsement of ASME Code Section III, Division 5 (Rules for Construction of Nuclear Power Plant Components: High Temperature Reactors, published by ASME in July 2017). NUMARK will also examine available information on the properties of nuclear-grade graphite, their source dependency, and the reactor operating environment. Additionally, under an optional task NUMARK would support the review of high-temperature flaw evaluation methodologies under ASME Section XI, that could potentially be used for advanced non-light water reactors.
NRC’s potential endorsement of the ASME code of construction for high-temperature reactors (those operating above 800˚ F) would facilitate licensing of prospective advanced non-light water reactors such as sodium fast reactors (SFR), molten salt reactors (MSR), and high temperature gas reactors (HTGR). The use of graphite as moderator and a structural component of the HTGR is a specific focus of this project. The effort is related to the memorandum of understanding between NRC and the US Department of Energy (DOE) addressing the two agencies’ roles, responsibilities, and processes related to the implementation of the DOE Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) initiative.
The contract award to NUMARK was the result of a competitive solicitation. The period of performance is through January 2021. NUMARK will perform the work with the support of subcontractor Engineering Mechanics Corporation of Columbus.
NUMARK, founded in 1991, has provided technical support services to NRC since 2007. Besides its work for NRC, NUMARK supports public and private sector clients in the US and around the world in the areas of nuclear safety, environmental protection, and sustainable energy strategies.
