HTGR-process steam/cogeneration and HTGR-steam cycle program. Semiannual report, October 1, 1979-March 31, 1980

Technical Report · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6808910· OSTI ID:6808910

Progress in the design of an 1170-MW(t) High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTGR) Nuclear Steam Supply (NSS) is described. This NSS can integrate favorably into present petrochemical and primary metal process industries, heavy oil recovery operations, and future shale oil recovery and synfuel processes. The economics appear especially attractive in comparison with alternative coal-fired steam generation. Cost estimates for central station power-generating 2240- and 3360-MW(t) HTGR-Steam Cycle (HTGR-SC) plants are updated. The 2240-MW(t) HTGR-SC is treated to a probabilistic risk evaluation. Compared with the earlier 3000-MW(t) design, the results predict a slightly increased risk of core heatup, owing to the result of eliminating the capability of the boiler feed pump to operate at atmospheric backpressure. The differences in risk, however, are within the calculational uncertainties. Preliminary results of the ranking of safety enhancement features for the 1170-MW(t) HTGR indicate that the following modifications offer the most promise: (1) capability for main loop rundown, (2) natural circulation core auxiliary cooling, and (3) PCRV blowdown capability through the helium purification system to minimize activity release during some core heatups.

• Research Organization: General Atomic Co., San Diego, CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AT03-76ET35301
• OSTI ID: 6808910
• Report Number(s): GA-A-16057
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210300* -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Graphite Moderated
210900 -- Nuclear Power Plants-- Process Heat Reactors-- (-1987)
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL PLANTS
COGENERATION
DEUS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GAS COOLED REACTORS
GRAPHITE MODERATED REACTORS
HTGR TYPE REACTORS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
LICENSING
MATERIALS
OIL SANDS
OIL SHALES
PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS
POWER GENERATION
PROCESS HEAT REACTORS
PROCESSING
REACTOR LICENSING
REACTOR SAFETY
REACTORS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RISK ASSESSMENT
SAFETY
STEAM
STEAM GENERATION