Energy Conversion Loop: Process Heat Applications of Hybrid Energy Systems

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 2017 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society

OSTI ID:23047366

Verner, Kelley M.; Ostrom, Lee T. ^[1]; McKellar, Michael G. ^[2]

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1. University of Idaho Idaho Falls, 995 University Blvd., Idaho Falls, ID, 83401 (United States)
2. Idaho National Laboratory, 750 University Blvd., Idaho Falls, ID, 83401 (United States)

Climate change due to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has prompted a shift from fossil fuel energy to other sources for electricity production such as nuclear, solar or wind. These alternatives since no GHG is produced, and no fossil fuels are burned. Both nuclear and other renewable energy sources are recognized as reliable technologies in the United States and around the world. However, they all have a unique set of challenges. Two of the most common renewable energy sources are solar and wind. A particular shortcoming of these two options is the variability of the energy produced; that is they are highly dependent on weather. Many times wind and/or solar power systems are not able to meet the electric demand during peak times. Replacing fossil fuels with nuclear energy is an option (non fossil fuel) for clean energy production. Two primary challenges with using nuclear energy are; wasted heat energy and the lack of load following capabilities. First, heat energy is wasted in the production stream from steam that is created while cooling the core of a nuclear reactor. This steam is initially used in turbines where the electricity is produced. However, once the steam passes through the turbines it is cooled, re-condensed to water, and reused. Large amounts of heat energy are released in the form of heat to the environment (either to the atmosphere or as waste water) and go unused. Secondly, nuclear energy is primarily a baseload power producer - the power output does not fluctuate with power demands, or is not load following. A nuclear hybrid energy system (NHES) may be a solution to the two issues mentions above. Traditional hybrid energy systems (HES) are a combination of two or more energy producers working together to create different energy commodities such as fuel or electricity. To create a NHES, normal use of the reactor for electricity production is combined with renewable power sources to meet the peak power demand of the grid. When electricity demand is high the renewable source and NPP are used in conjunction to meet the demand. When the electricity demand is low the renewable power is used to produce electricity while the NPP operates at full capacity. Rather than sending the excess heat to the cooling towers the excess energy created by the NPP (heat) is diverted to another industrial process.There is no need to decrease the power coming out of the NPP. This research proposal addresses harvesting unused thermal energy from a NPP during normal operations and in times of low power demand.

• OSTI ID: 23047366
• Journal Information: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Vol. 116; ISSN 0003-018X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
42 ENGINEERING
ELECTRICITY
ENERGY CONVERSION
FOSSIL FUELS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
NUCLEAR ENERGY
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
PEAK LOAD
POWER DEMAND
POWER SYSTEMS
PROCESS HEAT
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
TURBINES
WASTE HEAT
WASTE WATER