Power Coastdown Fuel Savings Model

When it comes to nuclear energy, even small optimizations can lead to significant financial and operational benefits. The Power Coastdown Fuel Savings Model was designed to calculate the optimal coastdown period for Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) core designs, improving fuel efficiency while reducing costs.

Balancing Fuel Efficiency and Cost Savings

In nuclear power plants, the coastdown period refers to the gradual reduction of reactor power as fuel depletes, rather than an abrupt shutdown. While this approach can extend fuel usage, determining the most cost-effective coastdown length requires precise modeling.

A financial model was developed incorporating real-world data, including:

• Fuel costs & interest rates

• Historical fuel burnup performance

• Market power prices

By leveraging actual core performance data, the model significantly improved the accuracy and reliability of coastdown predictions—especially during economically challenging periods for nuclear operators.

Unlocking Cost Savings Through Data-Driven Decisions

The enhanced financial model enabled power plant operators to fine-tune their fuel strategies, leading to an estimated $100K in savings per fuel cycle. By improving the fidelity of cost forecasting, the model provides a practical, data-backed approach to optimizing nuclear fuel efficiency while maintaining economic viability.

With energy markets evolving, maximizing fuel efficiency will continue to be a critical advantage. This project demonstrates how smart modeling and strategic planning can drive meaningful cost savings in the nuclear power industry.