RSICC CODE PACKAGE PSR-414

1. NAME AND TITLE

RECAP: Replacement Energy Cost Analysis Package.

2. CONTRIBUTORS

Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois through the Energy Science and Technology Software Center, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

3. CODING LANGUAGE AND COMPUTER

Microsoft QuickBASIC; IBM PC includes 1993-1996 cost estimates (P00414IBMPC01).

Previous version available includes 1988-1991 cost estimates (P00414IBMPC00).

4. NATURE OF PROBLEM SOLVED

RECAP (Replacement Energy Cost Analysis Package) determines the replacement energy costs associated with short-term shutdowns or deratings of one or more nuclear reactors. Replacement energy cost refers to the change in generating-system production costs that result from shutting down a reactor. The cost calculations are based on the seasonal, unit-specific cost estimates for 1988-1991 in P00414IBMPC00 for all 117 nuclear electricity-generating units in the United States. The P00414IBMPC01 version contains data for 1993-1996. RECAP is menu-driven, allowing the user to define specific case studies in terms of parameters such as the units to be included, the length and timing of the shutdown or derating period, the unit capacity factors, and the reference year for reporting cost results. In addition to simultaneous shutdown cases, more complicated situations, such as overlapping shutdown periods or shutdowns that occur in different years, can be examined through use of a present-worth calculation option.

5. METHOD OF SOLUTION

The user selects a set of units for analysis, defines a shutdown (or derating) period, and specifies any planned maintenance outages, delays in unit startups, or change in default capacity factors. The program then determines which seasonal cost numbers to apply, estimates total and daily costs, and makes the appropriate adjustments for multiple outages if they are encountered. The change in production cost is determined from the difference between the total variable costs (variable fuel cost, variable operation and maintenance cost, purchased energy cost) when the reactor is available for generation and when it is not. Changes in reference-year dollars are based on gross national product (GNP) price deflators or on optional user inputs. Once RECAP has completed the initial cost estimates for a case study (or series of case studies), present worth analyses can be conducted using different reference-year dollars and discount rates, as specified by the user. The program uses default values for gross national product price deflators unless user-defined cost adjustment factors are entered.

6. RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS

Maximum of 25 case-study files. Care should be exercised in applying the replacement energy cost estimates to shutdowns of a year or more, since utilities would probably seek more-optimum solutions to the loss of a nuclear unit in such cases.

7. TYPICAL RUNNING TIME

NESC executed the sample problem in approximately 1.5 minutes on an IBM PC/AT.

8. COMPUTER HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

An IBM PC or compatible personal computer with a fixed disk drive or dual 3.5-inch flexible disk drives. Optional equipment includes a color monitor and a printer.

9. COMPUTER SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

The Microsoft QuickBASIC interpreter was used to create the included executable, which runs under MS-DOS 3.1 or later or in a DOS box of Windows95.

10. REFERENCES

a) Included with package:

RECAP, NESC No. 1124 RECAP Flexible Disk Cartridge Descriptions and Selected Sample Problem Output, NESC Note 92-10 (October 9, 1991).

J. C. VanKuiken, C. L. Daun, M. J. Jusko, "Replacement Energy Cost Analysis package (Recap): User's Guide," NUREG/CR-5344, ANL/EES-TM-364 (April 1989).

b)Background information:

J. C. VanKuiken, K. A. Guziel, W. A. Buehring, B. P. Hamilton, "Replacement Energy Costs for Nuclear Electricity-Generating Units in the United States; 1987-1991," NUREG/CR-4012 Vol. 2, ANL-AA-30 Vol.2 (January 1987).

11. CONTENTS OF CODE PACKAGE

Included in the package are the referenced document in (10.a) and one DOS formatted self extracting diskette that includes an executable.

12. DATE OF ABSTRACT

July 1999.

KEYWORD: COST ANALYSIS