The Potential of Pressurised Water Reactors to Provide Flexible Response in Future Electricity Grids

Peakman, Aiden; Merk, Bruno; Hesketh, Kevin

doi:10.3390/en13040941

Cited by 16 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The assumed load factor for the nuclear power plants of 80% is low by global standards for modern reactors [13]. However, with increasing amounts of variable renewables and a large reactor fleet it is expected that there will be an impact on load factors as reactors will need to vary their output to meet fluctuations in demand and the variable supply from renewables [14]. The 65 GWe nuclear capacity initially comprises (prior to any fast reactor transition) 43 Light Water Reactors (LWRs) constructed over a 25 year period, resulting in a build-rate of around 1.7 reactors per year.…”

Section: Details Of Energy Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Fuel Cycle Implications of Nuclear Process Heat

Peakman

Gregg

2020

Energies

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International and UK fuel cycle scenario analyses performed to date have focused on nuclear plants producing electricity without considering in detail the other potential drivers for nuclear power, such as industrial process heat. Part of the reason behind the restricted applications of nuclear power is because the assumptions behind the future scenario are not fully captured, for example how big are demands from different sectors? Here we present a means to fully capture the potential opportunities for nuclear power using Sankey diagrams and then, using this information, consider for the first time in the UK the fuel cycle implications of decarbonising industrial heat demand in the year 2050 with nuclear power using the ORION fuel cycle code to study attributes related to spent fuel, uranium demand and decay heat from the spent fuel. We show that even in high industrial energy demand scenarios, the sensitivity of spent fuel masses and decay heat to the types of reactor deployed is relatively small compared to the greater fuel cycle demands from large-scale deployment of nuclear plants for electricity production. However, the sensitivity of spent fuel volumes depends heavily on the extent to which High Temperature Reactor and Light Water Reactor systems operating on a once-through cycle are deployed.

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Section: Details Of Energy Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Fuel Cycle Implications of Nuclear Process Heat

Peakman

Gregg

2020

Energies

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“…The reason for this is the low maneuverability of nuclear power plants, which is related to the safety issues of nuclear power plant operation due to the principles of operating nuclear reactors and restrictions [34,42,43]. Traditionally, nuclear power plants are not considered as a maneuverable source of energy supply [23,44]. So, a nuclear power plant has several restrictions on the number and power changes in cycle speed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…So, a nuclear power plant has several restrictions on the number and power changes in cycle speed. NPP operation in a maneuver mode with fast increases and decreases in power does not provide 100% operational safety [34,44]. The maneuverable modes of operation of NPPs hurt the operation of the equipment in the reactor core [29]; this risks damage to fuel rods, damage to control rods, and uneven fuel burnout.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heat Storage as a Way to Increase Energy Efficiency and Flexibility of NPP in Isolated Power System

Lebedev,

Deev

2023

Applied Sciences

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This paper considers a thermal accumulator using phase transition materials as a way to increase the energy efficiency and maneuverability of nuclear power plants. A low-power nuclear power plant is the object of this study. Such nuclear power plants have a great potential for widespread implementation as sources of thermal and electrical energy for facilities of mineral and raw material as well as fuel and energy complexes located in distant regions. The main principles of development of low-power nuclear power plants are revealed. So, in the development of low-power nuclear power plants, experience in the creation and operation of shipboard nuclear power installations is widely used. The problems of NPP operation in daily maneuvering modes within an isolated power system are revealed. A method for improving the energy efficiency and maneuverability of nuclear power plants is proposed, in particular, through the use of thermal accumulators with a phase change material directly in the NPP circuit. A method of assessment of the dimensions of the heat accumulator and the amount of heat accumulating material is presented. A method of assessment of the efficiency of the accumulator application scheme is presented. The thermal scheme of a promising low-power nuclear power plant with an RITM-200 reactor is compiled. A scheme for switching on a heat accumulator with a phase change material to a scheme for regenerative heating of a turbine is proposed. The heat storage material selection is made, the main elements and characteristics of such an accumulator are determined, and the parameters of the heat transfer fluid’s movement through the accumulator are determined. A mathematical model of the heat exchange in an accumulator based on the finite difference method is compiled, and the simulation results are presented. The results of the experimental verification of the model are presented. As a result of the calculation of NPPs’ thermal schemes in the standard version and the version with a heat accumulator, the power increase in the turbine plant due to the application of accumulated heat in the accumulator discharge mode is determined.

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“…The regulation system based on Multiband Power System Stabilizer (MBPSS) in combination with STATCOM voltage regulation systems was characterized by a much higher effectiveness of regulation and oscillations suppression, compared to regulation based on generic power stabilizer system (GPSS) in tandem with SVC. Furthermore, in Reference [13], the authors pointed out that the growing share of RES in the installed capacity in the power system reduces the rotational inertia available so far in conventional units. The authors pointed to the need to increase the flexibility of operation of nuclear power plants as an opportunity to improve the stability of the power system in response to disturbances by using their inertia.…”

Section: Introduction 1power Generation Problem At Largementioning

confidence: 99%

Power System Stabilizer as a Part of a Generator MPC Adaptive Predictive Control System

et al. 2021

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In this paper, a model predictive controller based on a generator model for prediction purposes is proposed to replace a standard generator controller with a stabilizer of a power system. Such a local controller utilizes an input-output model of the system taking into consideration not only a generator voltage Ug but also an additional, auxiliary signal (e.g., α, Pg, or ωg). This additional piece of information allows for taking oscillations into account that occur in the system and minimizing their impact on the overall system performance. Parameters of models used by the controller are obtained on the basis of the introduced black-box models both for a turbine and a synchronous generator, parameters of which are estimated in an on line fashion using a RLS method. The aim of this paper is to compare the behavior of the classical generator control system with a power system stabilizer and a model predictive control with an additional feedback signal. The novelty of the paper is related to the use of the predictive controller instead of the classical controller/stabilizer system and its possibility of stabilizing the power system. Contrary to the solutions found in the literature, which are commonly-based on a fuzzy logic approach, the authors propose the use of an adaptive model predictive controller, which takes advantage of the knowledge concerning the plant in the form of a model and adapts itself to the operating point of the system using the model parameters estimation mechanism. Moreover, the adaptive predictive controller, unlike other solutions, automatically adjusts signal levels to changes in the plant. The proposed solution is able to calculate the best control signal regardless of whether these changes of the plant are caused by a change in the operating point, or resulting from operation, e.g., wear of mechanical parts.

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The Potential of Pressurised Water Reactors to Provide Flexible Response in Future Electricity Grids

Cited by 16 publications

References 16 publications

The Fuel Cycle Implications of Nuclear Process Heat

The Fuel Cycle Implications of Nuclear Process Heat

Heat Storage as a Way to Increase Energy Efficiency and Flexibility of NPP in Isolated Power System

Power System Stabilizer as a Part of a Generator MPC Adaptive Predictive Control System

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