REACTOR TECHNOLOGY | DUAL FLUID
Reinvented: The Dual Fluid principle
High efficiency is a key differentiator of the new nuclear power technology being developed by Dual Fluid. Instead of fuel rods, a Dual Fluid reactor contains two circulating fluids: one carries the fuel and the other extracts the heat. This concept “completely redefines nuclear power”, the start-up says. The Dual Fluid principle enables nuclear fuel to be utilised “up to a hundred times better than in today’s light water reactors”, while the “operating temperature of 1000°C enables new heat applications”
Gas cleaning system Liquid lead
Coolant loop
Reactor core Protective gas atmosphere Fuse plug Pump
Heat exchanger
Fuel storage Heat buffer
(super critical water or carbon dioxide)
Turbine loop
Above, figure 1: 300 MWe Dual Fluid power plant (DF300)
HIGH EFFICIENCY IS A KEY differentiator of the new nuclear power technology being developed by Dual Fluid. Instead of fuel rods, a Dual Fluid reactor contains two circulating fluids: one carries the fuel and the other extracts the heat. This concept “completely redefines nuclear power”, the start-up says. The Dual Fluid principle enables nuclear fuel to be utilised “up to a hundred times better than in today’s light water reactors”, while the “operating temperature of 1000°C enables new heat applications” Dual Fluid was originally a German nuclear technology
start-up, but was incorporated as a public company in Vancouver in 2021 to better position it to benefit from Canada’s favourable disposition towards SMR development. “The Canadian government promotes SMRs as a technology of the future,” says Dual Fluid, “while the population
36 | July 2022 |
www.neimagazine.com
predominantly sees nuclear power as an opportunity.” Also, “the country is experienced in nuclear technology and, unlike Germany, can look back on uninterrupted expertise” and “last but not least, there is an internationally recognised nuclear licensing authority.”
LWRs: an inadequate technology The light water reactors commonly used worldwide are inefficient as they can only convert about 1% of the natural uranium produced into electricity, argues Dual Fluid. In addition, the nuclear fuel is burned at low temperature, which makes “interesting chemical applications” impossible. How did this inadequate technology prevail over more
promising designs that existed in the middle of the last century? The answer is found in its military advantages,
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45
