Generation IV Gas-cooled Reactor System Concepts

Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

Generation IV Roadmap Session ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV November 13, 2001
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Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

People Involved in This Work

Abram, Tim Ball, Syd Ballot, Bernard Carre, Franck * Finck, Phillip Fukuda, Kosaku Greneche, Dominique Hildebrandt, Phil * Kadak, Andy Kendall, Jim Khalil, Hussein Kim, shin whan Lensa, Werner von Ogawa, Masuro Royen, Jacques Shenoy, Arkal Southworth, Finis ** *** British Nuclear Fuels, LTD. Oak Ridge National Laboratory Framatome-ANP Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique Argonne National Laboratory International Atomic Energy Agency COGEMA EMT Inc. Massachusetts Institute of Technology International Atomic Energy Agency Argonne National Laboratory KOPEC EURATOM / FZJ Juelich JAERI OECD-NEA General Atomics INEEL
* Co-chair ** Technical Director
Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV November 13, 2001

*** Presenter
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Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

Introduction
Charter- Identify and evaluate advanced gas cooled reactor system concepts for advancing the Generation IV goals A DOE RFI and team solicitations resulted in 21 reactor system concepts submitted from France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, and the U.S. The 21 concepts were consolidated into four concept sets The four concept sets have been qualitatively screened to assess their potential to achieve the generation IV goals The screening used criteria developed by the Evaluation Methodology Group in support of each goal, and measured against existing advanced light water reactor designs

Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

November 13, 2001

Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

Gas Cooled Thermal Reactor General Features

Reference concepts used once through LEU fuel cycles TRISO fuel -- SiC and pyrolytic graphite fission product barriers Graphite moderated, helium coolant Naturally safe designs with conductive and radiative decay heat removal High temperature direct Brayton cycle power conversion Increased fuel utilization and decreased HLW due to high thermal efficiency Significant fuel cycle flexibility within a reactor design-LEU once-through, Pu-MA single recycle, W-Pu, HEU, Th-U233 converter

Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

November 13, 2001

Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

Pebble Bed Reactor Systems (PBR)

Five concepts submitted Reference concept- 115 MWe, 250 MWth, direct Brayton cycle Low excess reactivity (continuous on-line refueling) Shows promise for Modest gains in sustainability Significant advance towards safety goals Comparable economics

Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

November 13, 2001

Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

PBR Fuel
Pebbles are 60 mm

Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

November 13, 2001

Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

PBR With IHX

Turbomachinery Module

Reactor Module

IHX Module

Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

November 13, 2001

Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

Sample 1150 MWe PBR Plant

Ten-Unit MPBR Plant Layout (Top View)
(distances in meters)

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Admin
Equip Access Hatch Equip Access Hatch

Training

10

Equip Access Hatch

Control Bldg.

Maintenance Parts / Tools

Primary island with reactor and IHX

Turbomachinery

Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

November 13, 2001

Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

PBR R&D Needs

Fuel qualification at higher burnups, fluences, and temperatures. Beyond design basis event behaviors (air and water ingress) Fuel manufacturing quality improvements

Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

November 13, 2001

Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

Prismatic Fuel Modular Reactor Systems (PMR)

Five concepts submitted Reference Concept- 286 MWe, 600 MWth, direct Brayton Cycle 850 C core exit temperature LEU once-through fuel cycle Fuel cycles submitted included waste transmutation, W-Pu burner, Th-U233 converter. Shows promise for Modest gains in sustainability Significant advance towards safety goals Comparable economics

Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

November 13, 2001

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Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

Conceptual PMR

Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

November 13, 2001

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Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

PMR Response to Loss of Coolant

Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

November 13, 2001

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Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

PMR R&D Needs

Similar to PBR Fuel performance qualification Fuel manufacturing quality Higher temperature vessel materials qualification Turbomachinery bearings

Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

November 13, 2001

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Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

Very High Temperature Reactor Systems (VHTR)

Four concepts submitted General features of VHTR- >900 C coolant core exit temperature prismatic core, 600 MWth, LEU once-through cycle Shows promise for Gains in sustainability and flexibility Significant advance towards safety goals Comparable economics

Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

November 13, 2001

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Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

Motivation for VHTRs

30 % of world primary fuel use is to generate electricity 17 % of electricity uses nuclear fuel Nuclear power can offset other primary fuels in applications other than electricity VHTRs may significantly reduce liquid and gaseous fossil fuel demands

Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

November 13, 2001

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Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

Process Heat Applications

Temperature(C)
200 400 600 1200 1400 1000 Glass manufacture Cement manufacture 800 1600

Iron manufacture
Direct reduction method with Blast furnace

Electricity generation (Gas turbine) Gasification of coal Hydrogen (IS process) Hydrogen (Steam reforming ) Ethylene (naphtha, ethane) Styrene (ethylbenzene) Town gas Petroleum refineries Deesulfurization of heavy oil Wood pulp manufacture Urea synthesis Desalination, District heating Application

VHTR
HTGR LMFBR LWR, HWR 550 C 320 C

850 1500 C
850 C Nuclear Heat

Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

November 13, 2001

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Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

Effect of temperature on Sustainability

100

Percent of current standard (%)

Power cost 80 60 40 20 0 30 40 50 60 70 Fission product waste Reject heat cooling water consumption

Thermal efficiency (%)

Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

November 13, 2001

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Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

IS Process for Hydrogen Production

Hydrogen Hydrogen
H2 400 C H2
+

Nuclear Nuclear Heat Heat

900 C

Oxygen Oxygen
1 O 2 2 1 2 O2
+ SO 2+ H 2O

2HI

I2

Rejected Rejected Heat Heat 100 100C C

2H I I2
+

H 2 SO 4

I (Iodine) Circulation
I2

H 2 SO 4

+ H 2 O + SO 2+ H 2 O

S (Sulfur) Circulation
+ H 2O

SO 2

H 2O

Water Water

Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

November 13, 2001

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Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

Temperature Capability of Concepts

Very High Temperature Reactor Concept Set G-9: GA-VHTR
(EG&NPH)

Coolant Outlet Temperature 1500 C

1200 C 1000 C 950 C HTTR 850 C 700 C Pebble Bed Reactor Concept Set Prismatic Modular Reactor Concept Set

G-17 APBR
HTR-10
(EG& NPH)

G-18: AHTR
Reference

G-12 PHMHR
(NPH)

(EG&NPH)

EG-Electrical Generation

NPH-Nuclear Process Heat Applications

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Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

Reference VHTR with IHX and Hydrogen Production

Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

November 13, 2001

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Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

VHTR R&D Needs

Higher temperature fuels (e.g. ZrC instead of SiC) Higher temperature materials (e.g. ceramic structures) Passive decay heat removal systems (e.g. heat pipes) High Temperature IHX

Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

November 13, 2001

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Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

Gas Cooled Fast Reactor Systems (GFR)

Four concepts submitted No complete reference concept Novel features of the four concepts may illuminate future development pathways. Three concepts use helium coolant, one uses CO2. Rely upon recycle. May allow passive decay heat removal Show promise for Significant advance in sustainability Comparable safety performance Unclear economics
Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV November 13, 2001 22

Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

Example GFR Prismatic Fuel

Coolant holes Cermet or Metmet fuel in a metallic matrix for concept G2 Cercer fuel for concept G7

Replaceable lowdensity reflector or void

Replaceable outer reflector

Permanent side reflector

Active core

Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

November 13, 2001

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Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

GFR R&D Needs

Fuel, structural and core materials Passive safety system capabilities Recycle techniques

Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV

November 13, 2001

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Technical Working Group 2 -- Gas Cooled Reactor Systems

Summary
The advanced gas-cooled thermal reactor system concepts show promise for- Modest improvements in sustainability Significant improvement toward safety goals Comparable economics with the potential for major improvement in applications other than electricity Fast reactor concepts show- Significant improvement toward sustainability goals Much development is needed to define promising concepts All concept sets allow high temperature process heat applications, in addition to electrical generation. The VHTR concepts allow more applications and higher efficiencies. The next step is to quantitatively assess the concept sets and define R&D scope.
Reno ANS Presentation RS041-00 2001 ANS Winter Meeting Reno, NV November 13, 2001 25