REACTOR DESIGN | ADVANCED REACTORS
A foundation for advanced reactors
The business opportunities and deployment scenarios for advanced reactors are quite different from their larger light water cousins with a variety of sizes and scales to meet various output requirements. A new report from the US National Academy of Engineering explores the options
MANY ADVANCED REACTORS USE DIFFERENT technology to the large light water reactors (LWRs) used for electricity production today, but in marked contrast to the existing fleet there are new deployment scenarios that did not exist previously too. This is the conclusion of a new report from the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that aims to identify the unique opportunities and barriers for advanced reactors. The authors note that some advanced reactors differ
from LWRs in terms of size, neutron spectrum, coolant, fuel type, fuel enrichment, and/or outlet temperature. And, with designs covering a variety of sizes and scales to meet various electricity output requirements, non-electric applications of reactor energy output such as process heat, transportable reactors, and factory manufacture of reactor modules, or complete factory manufacture of entire reactors there are new business opportunities. The report argues these ideas are in response to a rapidly changing electricity ecosystem that is becoming increasingly reliant on variable renewable energy, as well as a recognition of the larger decarbonisation challenge for sectors that rely on fossil fuels. While many uncertainties surround the
future electricity system, increased electricity demand, greater deployment of distributed resources, increased electrification of end-uses, and the greater application of demand flexibility technologies are expected to increase and change future generation needs. Nonetheless, many modelling studies suggest that some firm capacity will be required for lowest-cost and reliable electricity in high- renewable scenarios. As a result, increased electrification and renewables development presents a significant market opportunity for advanced nuclear to serve the grid. While advanced nuclear reactors could fill this need at
a variety of scales (from a few megawatts to a gigawatt), many other low-carbon technologies will also be looking to take advantage of this opportunity as well, the report says. Even in a future with significant variable renewables, the generation of electricity will likely remain the most consequential output from advanced reactors.
Competitive costs Nuclear power’s competitiveness to serve projected electricity demand, however, is highly sensitive to cost projections. The report states that recent studies suggest
Rotatable plug (Vessel cover)
Reactor vessel top support
Redan
Reactor vessel Guard vessel
Integrated annular IHX
Lower internal structure
EM pumps (4) Reactor core
Inlet plenum assemblies Core
Fuel transfer port Rotatable plug
Reactor head
Pantograph fuel handling machine
internal structure
Upper
Above: The AFR-100 is one of a large number of advanced reactors that offer novel deployment scenarios 12 | October 2023 |
www.neimagazine.com
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 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49
