Performance analysis of integrated Nuclear-Solar Energy system sharing same molten salt thermal energy storage

Soto, G. J.; Wagner, M. J.; Neises, T. W.; Lindley, B. A.

doi:10.1016/j.pnucene.2024.105166

Title: Performance analysis of integrated Nuclear-Solar Energy system sharing same molten salt thermal energy storage

Journal Article · 13 March 2024 · Progress in Nuclear Energy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2024.105166 · OSTI ID:2335791

Soto, G. J. ^[1]; Wagner, M. J. ^[1];

^[2]; Lindley, B. A. ^[1]

University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Advanced nuclear reactors may be deployed with integrated thermal energy storage to improve flexibility and maximize revenue. This presents opportunities for thermal integration with concentrating solar power (CSP) to generate component synergies and/or improve performance. Here in this study, a computational model is developed for an integrated nuclear and CSP system that both share the same molten salt thermal energy storage (TES). Optimized dispatch schedules are developed subject to various market conditions, and the ratio of the nuclear to CSP thermal output is also varied. Performance of the combined system is compared to separate nuclear and solar plants, to determine if there is an overall benefit that can be derived from sharing the TES. Given sufficient volatility in electricity prices (e.g., under CAISO market conditions), synergies of up to 8% in net revenue are observed as a result of sharing the same TES, primarily due to improved revenue from enabling operation of the turbine closer to its design point, as well as being able to better take advantage of higher electricity prices. The synergy benefits are largest when the nuclear and solar plants have similar thermal output. However, when prices are less volatile the opposite behavior can be observed and it can be preferable to operate the nuclear plant as a baseload generator.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Cite

Export

Save

Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308; NE0008988

OSTI ID:: 2335791

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2323976

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA--5700-88172; MainId:88947; UUID:aec7afde-6f4a-488a-89e2-3a45e308bc16; MainAdminId:72269

Journal Information:: Progress in Nuclear Energy, Journal Name: Progress in Nuclear Energy Vol. 171; ISSN 0149-1970

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (16)

Exergy optimization of nuclear-solar dual proposed power plant based on GWO algorithm Naserbegi, A.; Aghaie, M. Progress in Nuclear Energy, Vol. 140 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2021.103925	journal	October 2021
Coupling heat storage to nuclear reactors for variable electricity output with baseload reactor operation Forsberg, Charles; Brick, Stephen; Haratyk, Geoffrey The Electricity Journal, Vol. 31, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tej.2018.03.008	journal	April 2018
Decarbonizing the electric sector: Combining renewable and nuclear energy using thermal storage Denholm, Paul; King, Jeffrey C.; Kutcher, Charles F. Energy Policy, Vol. 44 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2012.01.055	journal	May 2012
Optimized dispatch in a first-principles concentrating solar power production model Wagner, Michael J.; Newman, Alexandra M.; Hamilton, William T. Applied Energy, Vol. 203 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.06.072	journal	October 2017
Impacts of variable renewable energy on wholesale markets and generating assets in the United States: A review of expectations and evidence Mills, Andrew D.; Levin, Todd; Wiser, Ryan Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 120 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2019.109670	journal	March 2020
Nuclear renewable hybrid energy system assessment through the thermal storage system Bayomy, A. M.; Moore, M. A. International Journal of Energy Research, Vol. 45, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1002/er.5514	journal	June 2020
Dispatch Optimization, System Design and Cost Benefit Analysis of a Nuclear Reactor with Molten Salt Thermal Storage Soto, Gabriel J.; Lindley, Ben; Neises, Ty Energies, Vol. 15, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.3390/en15103599	journal	May 2022
Preliminary assessment of the safety performance of Westinghouse LFR Lee, S. J.; Liao, J.; Wise, D. L. Nuclear Engineering and Design, Vol. 411 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2023.112409	journal	September 2023
Modular HTR confinement/containment and the protection against aircraft crash Brinkmann, Gerd Nuclear Engineering and Design, Vol. 236, Issue 14-16 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2006.03.047	journal	August 2006
SolarPILOT: A power tower solar field layout and characterization tool Wagner, Michael J.; Wendelin, Tim Solar Energy, Vol. 171 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2018.06.063	journal	September 2018
Conceptual design and preliminary performance analysis of a hybrid nuclear-solar power system with molten-salt packed-bed thermal energy storage for on-demand power supply Zhao, Bing-chen; Cheng, Mao-song; Liu, Chang Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 166 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2018.04.015	journal	June 2018
Innovative configuration of a hybrid nuclear-parabolic trough solar power plant Popov, Dimityr; Borissova, Ana International Journal of Sustainable Energy, Vol. 37, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1080/14786451.2017.1333509	journal	June 2017
Review of commercial thermal energy storage in concentrated solar power plants: Steam vs. molten salts González-Roubaud, Edouard; Pérez-Osorio, David; Prieto, Cristina Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 80 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.05.084	journal	December 2017
One implementation of vented low pressure containment for HTR Li, Fu; Chen, Fubing; Wang, Haitao Nuclear Engineering and Design, Vol. 356 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2019.110412	journal	January 2020
Electricity markets around the world Mayer, Klaus; Trück, Stefan Journal of Commodity Markets, Vol. 9 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcomm.2018.02.001	journal	March 2018
Real-time dispatch optimization for concentrating solar power with thermal energy storage Cox, John L.; Hamilton, William T.; Newman, Alexandra M. Optimization and Engineering, Vol. 24, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11081-022-09711-w	journal	June 2022

Similar Records

An Evaluation of Energy Storage Options for Nuclear Power

Journal Article · 2017 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society · OSTI ID:23050273

Johnson, Samuel C.; Webber, Michael E.; Coleman, Justin L.

Integration of Pumped Heat Energy Storage with Fossil-Fired Power Plant (Final Report)

Technical Report · 2022 · OSTI ID:1870158

Smith, Natalie R.; Bollinger, Benjamin; Ballew, Matt

A Technical and Economic Assessment of LWR Flexible Operation for Generation and Demand Balancing to Optimize Plant Revenue

Technical Report · 2021 · OSTI ID:1844211

McDowell, Dylan James; Talbot, Paul W.; Wrobel, Anna Marie; +6 more

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
25 ENERGY STORAGE
concentrating solar power
dispatch
integrated energy system
nuclear
thermal energy storage

Title: Performance analysis of integrated Nuclear-Solar Energy system sharing same molten salt thermal energy storage

Citation Formats

References (16)

Similar Records

Related Subjects