Offshore heat dissipation for nuclear energy centers
The technical, environmental, and economic aspects of utilizing the ocean or other large water bodies for the dissipation of reject heat from Nuclear Energy Centers (NECs) were investigated. An NEC in concept is an aggregate of nuclear power plants of 10 GW(e) capacity or greater on a common site. The use of once-through cooling for large power installations offers advantages including higher thermal efficiencies, especially under summer peak-load conditions, compared to closed-cycle cooling systems. A disadvantage of once-through cooling is the potential for greater adverse impacts on the aquatic environment. A concept is presented for minimizing the impacts of such systems by placing water intake and discharge locations relatively distant from shore in deeper water than has heretofore been the practice. This technique would avoid impacts on relatively biologically productive and ecologically sensitive shallow inshore areas. The NEC itself would be set back from the shoreline so that recreational use of the shore area would not be impaired. The characteristics of a heat-dissipation system of the size required for a NEC were predicted from the known characteristics of a smaller system by applying hydraulic scaling laws. The results showed that adequate heat dissipation can be obtained from NEC-sized systems located in water of appropriate depth. Offshore intake and discharge structures would be connected to the NEC pump house on shore via tunnels or buried pipelines. Tunnels have the advantage that shoreline and beach areas would not be disturbed. The cost of an offshore heat-dissipation system depends on the characteristics of the site, particularly the distance to suitably deep water and the type of soil or rock in which water conduits would be constructed. For a favorable site, the cost of an offshore system is estimated to be less than the cost of a closed-cycle system.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- OSTI ID:
- 6559181
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/TM-6435
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220503* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Environmental Aspects-- Chemical & Thermal Effluents
COASTAL WATERS
COOLING SYSTEMS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY PARKS
HEAT SINKS
NUCLEAR PARKS
OFFSHORE SITES
ONCE-THROUGH COOLING SYSTEMS
PLANNING
SURFACE WATERS
THERMAL EFFLUENTS
220503* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Environmental Aspects-- Chemical & Thermal Effluents
COASTAL WATERS
COOLING SYSTEMS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY PARKS
HEAT SINKS
NUCLEAR PARKS
OFFSHORE SITES
ONCE-THROUGH COOLING SYSTEMS
PLANNING
SURFACE WATERS
THERMAL EFFLUENTS