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Conference Article: An HTR cogeneration system for industrial applications

Abstract

Because of its favourable characteristics of safety and simplicity the high-temperature reactor (HTR) could become a competitive hear source for a cogeneration unit. The Netherlands is a world leading country in the field of cogeneration. As nuclear energy remains an option for the medium and long term in this country, systems for nuclear cogeneration should be explored and developed. Hence, ECN Nuclear Research is developing a conceptual design of an HTR for Combined generation of Heat and Power (CHP) for the industry in and outside the Netherlands.

The design of this small CHP-unit for industrial applications is mainly based on a pre-feasibility study in 1996, performed by a joint working group of five Dutch organisations, in which technical feasibility was shown. The concept that was subject of this study, INCOGEN, used a 40 MW thermal pebble bed HTR and produced a maximum amount of electricity plus low temperature heat. The system has been improved to produce industrial quality heat, and has been renamed ACACIA. The output of this installation is 14 MW electricity and 17 tonnes of steam per hour, with a pressure of 10 bar and a temperature of 220 deg. C. The economic characteristics of this installation turned out to be much more favourable using modern data.

The research work for this installation is embedded in a programme that has links to the major HTR projects in the world. Accordingly ECN participates in several IAEA Co-ordinated Research Programmes (CRPs). Beside this ECN is involved in the South African PBMR-project. Finally, ECN participates in the European Concerted Action on Innovative HTR.

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Reference:

Proceedings of a Technical Committee Meeting held in Beijing, People's Republic of China, 2-4 November 1998

International Atomic Energy Agency, International Working Group on Gas-Cooled Reactors, Vienna (Austria)

IAEA-TECDOC--1210, pp:203-211