The Pebble Bed Modular Reactor Project

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The Pebble Bed Modular Reactor Project

• Johan Slabber
• Chief Technology Officer
• PBMR (Pty) Ltd

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Distribution of Electricity Generating Plants in
South Africa
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The Project

• PBMR (Pty) Ltd intends to
• Build a demonstration module at Koeberg near Cape
  Town
• Build an associated fuel plant at Pelindaba near
  Pretoria
• Commercialize and market 165MWe modules in single
  or multi-module configuration for the local and
  export markets
• Transform PBMR (Pty) Ltd into a world-class
  company

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The PBMR Company

• Current staff of 650 people growing to 900 in
  2009
• Worlds largest technology nuclear development
  team
• (2000 people in total involved in project
  worldwide)
• More than 50 PhDs and with 2.5 degrees per
  person on
• average
• Shareholders SA Gov, Industrial Development
• Corporation, Eskom and Westinghouse
• Worlds Best suppliers
• SA proud of PBMR team - know what we are doing

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Supportive South African Government

• PBMR announced as National Strategic Project
• Committed to nuclear power, in the form of PBMR,
  as a significant portion (20-25) of future
  electric supply
• Approved funding for developing Demonstration
  plant for commissioning in 2010
• Affirmed program to develop human capital to
  helpenhance sustainable development in Africa

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Growth in SA Electricity Demand

• Compound annual demand growth of 3.4 per year
  since 1992 (2004 peak 34,210MW compared to 22,640
  in 1992)
• National Energy Regulators Integrated Resource
  Plan shows
• Projected growth of 2.8/annum to 2022
• New build capacity of over 20,000MW required by
  2022
• Growth at 4 would require 40,000MW
• Eskom predicts growth in demand of 1200 MW p/a
  over next 20 years

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Diversity of Energy Sources

• The expansion of generating capacity in South
  Africa should include a diversity of energy
  sources, including coal, hydro, nuclear, wind,
  solar, wave, tidal etc.
• To meet energy development challenges, South
  Africa needs to optimally use all energy sources
  available and vigorously pursue energy efficient
  programmes

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World Electricity Market

• World capacity in January 2002 was 3,465GW (100
  x Eskom)
• World average growth of 3 per annum since 1980
  (equates to 600 PBMRs per year)
• MIT forecasts world demand to triple by 2050
• Current world spending is about 100bn per year
  on new power stations
• Fossil fuel costs have risen dramatically
• Environmental pressure is increasing

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Resurgence of Nuclear Energy

• Thirty nuclear plants are being built today in 12
  countries around the world
• Green guru James Lovelock and Greenpeace
  co-founder Patrick Moore calls for massive
  expansion of nuclear to combat global warming
  (May 2004)
• George Bush signs energy bill and describes
  nuclear as one of the nations most important
  sources of energy (Aug 2005)
• US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman predicts
  nuclear will thrive as a future emission-free
  energy source (April 2005)
• Tony Blair proposes new generation of nuclear
  plants to combat climate change (July 2004)

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Resurgence of Nuclear Energy

• China plans to build 27x1000MW nuclear reactors
  over the next 15 years
• India plans a ten-fold nuclear power increase
• France to replace its 58 nuclear reactors with
  EPR units from 2020, at the rate of about one
  1600 MWe unit per year. 
• IAEA predicts at least 60 new reactors will
  become operational within 15 years

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Views on Nuclear

• "How are we going to satisfy the extraordinary
  need for energy in really rapidly developing
  countries? I don't think solar and wind are going
  to do it. We are going to have to find a way to
  harness all energy supplies that includes
  civilian nuclear power."
• Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State, Sept
  2005

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Views on PBMR

• The long-term future of power reactors belongs
  to very high temperature reactors such as the
  PBMR. Nils Diaz, Chairman of the US Nuclear
  Regulatory Commission, July 2004
• I feel we made a mistake in halting the HTR
  programme. Klaus Töpfer, Germanys former
  Minister of Nuclear Power and Environment.
  Davos, January 2003
• The PBMR technology could revolutionize how
  atomic energy is generated over the next several
  decades. It is one of he near-term technologies
  that could change the energy market. Prof.
  Andrew Kadak, Massachusetts Institute of
  Technology, January 2002
• Little old South Africa is kicking our butt with
  its development of the PBMR. This should be a
  wake-up call for the US. Syd Ball, senior
  researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 11
  June 2004.

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PBMR Uniquely Positioned

• Non-CO2 emitting option in climate change debate
• Inherent safety reducing regulation burden
• Small unit flexibility with short construction
  periods
• Accepted as very low nuclear proliferation risk
• Close enough to commercial deployment to achieve
  first to market dominance
• Eskom build program of at least 20 000 MW over
  the next 15 years

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Advantages to South Africa

• Ability to site on coast, away from coal fields
• RSA based turnkey supplier allows localisation
  of manufacture on sub-contractors
• Locally controlled technology limiting foreign
  exchange exposure
• About 56 000 local jobs created during full
  commercial phase
• R23 billion net positive impact on Balance of
  Payments

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Salient Features

• Can be placed near point of demand
• Small safety zone
• On-line refuelling
• Load-following characteristics
• Process heat applications
• Well suited for desalination purposes
• Synergy with hydrogen economy

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Why PBMR could be the first successful
commercialGeneration IV reactor
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PBMR Design Objectives
(SourceA Technology Roadmap for Generation IV
Nuclear Energy Systems U.S. DOE Dec 2002)

• PBMR design objectives are in line with the
  requirements of the Generation IV nuclear energy
  systems
• According to the current planning should come on
  line in 2010

PBMR
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The Technology
The PBMR is a small-scale, helium-cooled,
direct-cycle, graphite-moderated,
high-temperature reactor (HTR). Although it is
not the only gas-cooled HTR currently being
developed in the world, the South African project
is internationally regarded as the leader in the
power generation field.
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Schematic Diagram of Power Conversion Unit
Net Electrical Efficiency41.2
900C 8.6MPa
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Physical Layout of PBMR Main Power System
Compressors
Recuperator
Generator
Reactor Unit
Gearbox
Power Turbine
Intercooler
CCS
CBCS
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PBMR Fuel Design
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Fuel Handling System
Fuel Handling System Schematic Diagram

• PBMR spent fuel to be kept on site
• A 165 MWe module will generate 32 tons
• of spent fuel pebbles per year, about one
• ton of which is uranium
• Fuel spheres are pre-packagedfor final
• disposal purposes
• Draft nuclear waste management policy
• issued for public comment in 2003

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Reactor Safety Fundamentals

• Main safety objective is to preserve the
  integrity of the fuel under all postulated events
• To reach this objective it is therefore necessary
  to ensure that the fuel does not heat up or is
  degraded by some other means to a point where the
  activity retention capability is lost

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Reactor Safety Fundamentals

• The ultimate fuel temperature and the fuel
  element structural characteristics determine the
  activity retention capability during operation
  and following an event.
• Three factors determine the ultimate fuel
  temperature during operation and following an
  event
• - Production of heat in the core
• - Removal of heat from the core
• - The heat capacity of the core

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PBMR Core Size and Shape

• All ceramic
• Low powerdensity
• Large heat capacity

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PBMR Passive Decay Heat Removal Mechanisms
Centre Reflector
Pebble Core
Side Reflector
Core Barrel
RPV
RCCS
Reactor Cavity
Reactor Cavity Cooling System
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Fuel Temperature Rise Followinga Depressurized
Loss of Forced Cooling
Safe Temperature
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Safety Features Summary

• Simple design base
• If fault occurs, system shuts itself down
• The transfer medium (helium) is chemically inert
• Coated particle provides excellent containment
  for the fission product activity
• No need for safety grade backup systems
• No need for off-site emergency plans
• License application for small safety zone
• Inherent safety proven during public tests

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Demonstration Plant Building
Nuclear Island
Conventional Island
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Demonstration Plant Building
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Multi-Module Concept
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What Happens Next?

• EIA reopened and public meetings started
• Construction to start in 2007 (subject to
  positive conclusion of regulatory processes)
• Demonstration module and fuel plant to be
  completed by 2011
• First commercial modules to be completed by 2013

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Questions
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Thank You