NGNP Licensing Plan, PLN-3202
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
The nuclear energy industry has been traditionally using light water reactor (LWR) technology for the generation of electricity. This technology limits process steam temperature to approximately 300°C. Alternatively, high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) technology can provide both electricity and the high temperature heat needed for industrial processes. In fact, HTGR technology is expected to supply process heat as an alternative to existing carbon-based sources in commercial applications. These potential applications include co-generation of electricity and steam supply or high temperature gas supply to petrochemical and refining plants, electricity and steam supply for oil sands oil recovery, and high temperature steam or gas and electricity for hydrogen production. Applied in this way, HTGR technology can significantly reduce the use of premium fossil fuels for the production of process heat and reduce greenhouse gas releases, thus providing a significant competitive advantage for U.S. industrial markets. The Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) will be a licensed commercial HTGR plant capable of producing the electricity and high temperature process heat for the industrial markets discussed above. The NGNP Project will design, construct, and operate the HTGR plant and associated technologies to establish the technological basis for commercialization of this new generation of advanced nuclear plants. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will license the NGNP for operation, which is consistent with the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 that assigns the responsibility for licensing new Department of Energy (DOE) reactors to the NRC if they are used to generate power for an electric utility system or operated in any manner to demonstrate the suitability for subsequent use by the commercial power industry. NRC licensing of the NGNP will demonstrate the efficacy of licensing future gas-cooled reactors for commercial industrial applications.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-05ID14517
- OSTI ID:
- 1494926
- Report Number(s):
- INL/MIS-19-52714-Rev000
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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