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Thermodynamic performance of Pressurized Water Reactor power conversion cycle combined with fossil-fuel superheater

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Wibisono, AF 

Abstract

It is known that the Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs), which are the most common type of nuclear reactor existing today, usually used to provide a base load electricity. In order to be able to compete with other generation types (fossil and renewables), it would be desirable to develop PWRs with flexible load following capabilities to cope with varying electricity demand, especially in deregulated markets.

The thermal efficiency of PWRs can be increased by fitting the power plant with conventional fossil fuel superheaters. This hybrid system has been hypothesised to be able to adjust the power output and the cycle efficiency of PWRs. Such mode of operation would also improve the efficiency of converting the fossil fuel heat because it is applied only at the superheater stage. There are several ways to supply the heat to the superheaters, for example, by using the exhaust gas from the gas turbines and using the conventional gas burner.

In this paper, the thermodynamic performance of the hybrid system (PWR with superheater) is investigated for large reactor and Small Modular Reactor (SMR) application. The thermal efficiency of the AP1000 can be improved from 30.2% to 45.8% (with CCGT), 35.6% (with gas burner), and 36.6% (gas burner with reheating). The thermal efficiency of the SMR can be improved from 33.4% to nearly 45% (with CCGT), 35.5% (with gas burner), and 37.4% (gas burner with reheating). The analysis results show that it is possible for the hybrid system to operate between 65% and the full power load.

Description

Keywords

Pressurized Water Reactors, superheater, thermal efficiency, load following, Small Modular Reactor

Journal Title

Energy

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0360-5442
1873-6785

Volume Title

117

Publisher

Elsevier
Sponsorship
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support from the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP).