CHP and High Temperature Reactors. Presentation to NC2I Conference 14 th September 2015

Transcription

1 CHP and High Temperature Reactors Presentation to NC2I Conference 14 th September 2015

2 Gas cooled and high temperature reactors in the UK CHP and High Temperature Reactors

3 GCR & HTRs a UK history The UK has a substantial history of gas cooled, graphite moderated reactors of increasing core temperature Magnox (Gen I): Commercial operation s CO 2 coolant, unenriched U metal fuelled Core temperature 400 C Source : Nuclear Decommissioning Authority 3 CHP and High Temperature Reactors

4 GCR & HTRs a UK history Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors (Gen II): Commercial operation present CO 2 coolant, UO 2 fuelled Core temperature ~640 C Source : Office of Nuclear Regulation 4 CHP and High Temperature Reactors

5 GCR & HTRs a UK history Winfrith Dragon research reactor (materials and fuels test reactor) Helium cooled, Variety of TRISO fuels (UO 2, ThO 2, Pu carbide) Operated Core temperature 750 C Source : Research Sites Ltd. 5 CHP and High Temperature Reactors

6 HTRs UK activity in 2015 HTR development activity in the UK has shifted to the private sector. 2 companies currently known to be active in developing designs: U-Battery (a consortium of Urenco, Amec Foster Wheeler and Atkins) Gas cooled helium in primary circuit, nitrogen in secondary circuit. TRISO prismatic fuel Designed for heat as much as power : outlet temperature 800 C 4 MW electric / 10 MW thermal HTMR Ltd (a sister company of Steenskampskraal Thorium Ltd.) Helium cooled HTMR100 reactor TRISO pebble bed fuel Designed for heat or power 35 MW electric / 100 MW thermal 6 CHP and High Temperature Reactors

7 The potential for nuclear heat and cogeneration in the UK CHP and High Temperature Reactors

8 Decarbonising the UK cogeneration in context Current heat demand in UK varies between ~30GW to >200GW, whilst electricity supply varies between ~30GW to ~50 GW. Decarbonising UK energy system through electrification of heat production is a challenge (even with heat pumps for low grade heat). Economically competitive cogeneration from thermal electrical power plant has long been an area of interest especially if it is from low carbon generation! 8 CHP and High Temperature Reactors

9 Nuclear heat and cogeneration: UK potential Current UK Government policy is that thermal power stations, including nuclear ones, should be combined with CHP where this is possible. development consent applications for nuclear power stations should demonstrate that the applicant has fully considered the opportunities for CHP. Nuclear National Planning Statement, 2011 On should be technically feasible to transport heat to settlements at least up to 50km away from a power station. Assumes mid to low grade heat, taken off the lower end of the steam turbines of current plant. Applicable to all nuclear plant HTRs. 9 CHP and High Temperature Reactors

10 Nuclear heat and cogeneration : UK potential However the economic viability of CHP opportunities may be more limited for new nuclear power stations because the application of a demographic criterion for new nuclear power stations can result in stations being located away from major population centres and industrial heat demand.. Nuclear National Planning Statement, 2011 Nuclear sites tend to be a long way from population and industry centres. Magnox were required to be remote from population centres. More recent (and proposed) designs have been assessed as being safer. A reactor is not obliged to be remote. Office for Nuclear Regulation s siting criteria combine safety assessment and demographic analysis, which defines limits to sites proximity to population centres. 10 CHP and High Temperature Reactors

11 Nuclear heat and cogeneration : UK potential 2 current sites are shown with heat demands from the UK heat map. Sizewell Hinkley Point 11 CHP and High Temperature Reactors

12 Nuclear heat and cogeneration : UK potential Barriers to uptake of nuclear CHP from current plant Domestic heat demand: Demand density is very low near current nuclear power stations. Heat networks in the UK are currently too small to utilise a significant proportion of the heat available from current designs of nuclear power stations (largest is 60 MW thermal). Cost of heat network development. Result is that nuclear CHP for domestic heating cannot compete with gas (domestic heating falls outside the EU Emissions Trading System) Industrial heat demand: Lack of industrial customers close enough to nuclear plant. 12 CHP and High Temperature Reactors

13 Nuclear CHP in the UK Assessing potential for small modular reactors There might be greater potential for the use of CHP in the future if Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are taken forward. (SMR 300 MW electrical) In principle SMRs may have greater flexibility of siting. Heat production volume and flexibility may be more compatible with heat networks. Economics may be more favourable (e.g. build cost, time to deployment). Some designs offer higher grade heat than current large nuclear power stations, making industrial process heat supply. Late 2014 Completed overview of global market Spring 2015 DECC commissioned a programme of work to assess implications of SMR deployment for UK. Aims to engage with developers of all SMR types, including HTR SMRs. Due for completion in March CHP and High Temperature Reactors

14 Thank you for your attention! CHP and High Temperature Reactors