End-user HTGR Studies
- Integration of nuclear energy with non-electric end-user applications
- System integration, diagnostics and control
- Establishing efficient and well-integrated means of transferring and transporting nuclear energy to the end-user application at high temperatures
- Coupling nuclear reactors to large chemical customers
- Analysis of interaction between nuclear reactor kinetics and kinetics of industrial plant
- Understanding of performance of solid electrolytic cells to produce hydrogen
- Studying the feasibility of effective use of carbon feedstocks such as biomass, fossil carbon and carbon dioxide in an integrated nuclear system
DOW Chemical – Real Example
- Dow needs high temperatures in its unit operations. As high as 1000 degrees C to crack ethane to ethylene
- Requires >3,700 MW & >22 Million Lbs/Hr of steam to operate
- ~40% of Dow’s energy use is for conversion of petrochemical feedstocks (natural gas components ethane/butane and liquids such as naphtha) to ethylene
- At $8/MMBTU natural gas equivalent fuel cost, Dow steam and power bill alone is ~$5 Billion per year
- This alone equates to 14 MM tons per year of CO2 alone
- It is not just about Energy
- Petrochemical Industry’s raw materials are energy, natural gas liquids, naphtha
- Dow’s world-wide feedstock & energy demand is almost ~1 MM BBL/day, estimated cost of ~$32 billion in 2008 (~ 45% total annual operating costs and expenses)
- Production shifting overseas.
Re-thinking Energy —Hybrid Energy Systems
Electricity and Steam Production
Economic Factors |
| HTGR Plant Capital Cost |
$1,700/KWt |
| CCGT Capital Cost |
$625/KWt |
| Debt |
80% |
| Internal Rate of Return |
15% |
| Financing Interest |
8% |
| Financing Term |
20 years |
| Tax Rate |
38.9% |
VHTR Hydrogen Production Project
Mission: Investigate technologies for use of high temperature process heat from VHTRs to produce hydrogen
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Members:
- US, Japan, Korea, Canada and the European Union (China expected to join in 2011)
- Project Arrangement effective March 19, 2008
PMB Rep – Steve Herring (INL)
U.S. Contributions:
- Development of high temperature steam electrolysis process
- Economic evaluation of hydrogen production technologies
- Previous work on thermochemical cycles (now discontinued)
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Deployment of HTGR Results in Stable Energy Prices, Secure Source and Reduced Emissions
Natural Gas and Crude Oil Prices exhibit high volatility
HTGR Energy Prices affected only by normal inflationary factors, (e.g., wages, material)
Multiple Energy Conversion Configurations
Potential Contribution of Fission Reactors to Process Heat Industries
Potential Number of HTGRs
Existing Plants – Assuming 25% penetration of process heat & power market - - - 2.7 quads*
Growing and New Markets – Potential for 9.3 quads of HTGR Process Heat & Power
