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Title:
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Technology assessment HTR: pt. 4: power upscaling of High TemperatureReactors
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Author(s):
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Published by:
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Publication date:
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ECN
NUC
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1996
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ECN report number:
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Document type:
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ECN-C--96-044
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ECN publication
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Number of pages:
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Full text:
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34
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Download PDF
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Abstract:
Designs of nuclear reactors can be classified in evolutionary,revolutionary and innovative designs. An innovative design is the High
Temperature Reactor (HTR). Introduction of innovative reactors has not been
successful until now. Globally, three requirements for this reactors for
successful market introduction can be identified: (1) Societal support for
nuclear energy, or if separable, for this reactor type, should be repaired;
(2) After market introduction the innovative plant must be able to operate
economically competitive; and (3) The costs of market introduction of an
innovative reactor design must be limited. Until now all reactor designs
classified as innovative have not yet been realized. High temperature
reactors exist in many different designs. Common features are: helium
coolant, graphite moderator and coated particle fuel. The combination of
these creates the potential to fulfill the first requirement (public
support), and similarly a hurdle to the second requirement (economical
operation). All three problems existing in the eyes of the public are
addressed, while a high degree of transparency is reached, making the design
understandable also by others than nuclear experts. A consequence of
designing according to the social support requirement is a limitation of the
unit power level. The usual method to make nuclear power plants economically
competitive, i.e. just raising the power level (economy of scale) could not
be applied anymore. Therefore other means of cost decreasing had to be used:
modularization and simplification. These ideas are explained. Since all
existing HTRs are currently out of operation, additional experience from two
small HTRs under construction at this moment in the Far East will be
essential. In the history of HTR designs, an evolutionary path can be
identified. The early designs had a philosophy of safety and economics very
similar to those of LWR. Modularization was introduced to attain economic
viability and the design was simplified further by elimination of on-line
fuel element removal and safety relevant control rods. These designs (GHR and
peu a peu) are described. 9 figs, 11 tabs, 41 refs.
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