Simulation of a High-Temperature Modular Reactor (HTMR) for Power and Coal-to-Liquid Fuel-Cogeneration Plant

Traditionally nuclear reactor power plants have been optimized for electrical power generation only. In the light of the ever-rising cost of ever-dwindling fossil fuel resources as well the global polluting effects and consequences of their usage, the use of nuclear energy for process heating is becoming increasingly attractive. In this study the use of a so-called cogeneration plant in which a nuclear reactor energy source is simulated using basic equations for the simultaneous production of superheated steam for electrical power generation and process heat, is considered and analyzed. A novel heat pipe heat exchanger is used to generate superheated steam for the process heat which is, in this case, a coal-to-liquid process (CTL). Natural circulation of sodium, via a thermo-syphon, is used in the heat pipe heat exchanger to transfer heat from the hot stream to the cold. The superheated steam for power generation is generated in a separate once-through helical coil steam generator. A 750 °C, 7 MPa helium cooled high-temperature modular reactor (HTMR) has been considered to simultaneously provide steam at 540 °C, 13.5 MPa for the power unit and steam at 430 °C, 4 MPa for a CTL production plant. The simulation and dynamic control of such a cogeneration plant is considered. In particular, a theoretical model of the plant will be simulated with the aim of predicting the transient and dynamic behavior of the HTMR in order to provide guideline for the control of the plant under various operating conditions. It was found that the simulation model captured the behavior of the plant reasonably well and it is recommended that it could be used in the detailed design of plant control strategies. It was also found that using a 1500 MW-thermal HTMR the South African contribution to global pollution can be reduced by 1.58%.