Nuclear Power for Tomorrow

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Nuclear Power for Tomorrow

• Atam Rao
• Nuclear Power Technology Development

Evolutionary Innovative
Improved Construction
Standardization
Generation 3? 4?
Active Passive Safety
Improved Operation Maintenance
Presented at Vienna February 6, 2007
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MOST ELECTRICITY IS PRODUCED BY TURNING AN
ELECTRIC GENERATOR
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Nuclear Power has great potential for the
World BUT one needs to be realistic and practical
The future is likely to be driven by need
(demand) and overall economics
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Where is the need for power?
Developed country - replacing aging units -
over the next 50 years
Some developing countries - large need for power
NOW - limited fuel resources?
Necessity is the mother of invention
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Typical Nuclear Plant - several parts can
be made similar for all designs
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Comparison of Capital and Fuel Costs
Setting the Stage for Modern Nuclear Plants
37.3
34.4
29.4
22.5
Nuclear has Stable Economics but high initial
costs
Reference Presentation by US vendor at Atoms
For Peace 50th Anniversary in 2005
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Steps in advanced plant deployment - all attempt
to reduce schedule capital costs
Construction 5 to 10 years
Development, Design Licensing 15 to 20 years
COST
Site Preparation 3 to 5 years
Operation 60 years
TIME
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Trends in advanced plant design

• Increase plant availability
• Reduce components simplify
• Design for easier construction
• Build safety into the design

Relying on 50 years of experience
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ADVANCED DESIGNS ARE BEING DEVELOPED FOR ELECTRIC
NON-ELECTRIC APPLICATIONS

• Advanced Water Reactor Designs
• Improving economics ?
• Addressing special needs
• Fast Breeder Reactors
• Make full use of fuel compared to water reactors
• Meeting world needs if uranium is limited
• Help reduce radioactive waste storage needs
• High Temperature Reactor Design
• Meeting needs for process heat

Can they overcome hurdles that earlier designs
could not ?
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Fast Breeder/Burner Reactors

• Design features
• Cooled by Sodium in most designs
• Produce more fuel than they use - can breed
  fuel from Uranium Thorium
• Operating history 50 years
• Test - Russia, France, Germany, India, Japan, UK,
  USA,
• Demonstration - France, UK, Kazakhstan, Russia,
  Japan
• Some reliability challenges
• Future Developments
• France, Japan, Russia, Korea, US have
  development programs, incl. investigating
  different coolants
• China India have ongoing construction programs

Economic and political(?) challenges
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FAST REACTORS ARE BEING BUILT TODAY

• Chinas 25 MWe design

• Indias 500 MWe design

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HIGH TEMPERATURE REACTORS

• Design features
• Cooled by Helium or Carbon dioxide
• Enhanced safety characteristics
• Operating history
• 1400 reactor-years experience
• Some reliability challenges
• Future Developments
• South Africa planning a 165 MWe plant
• Plant being designed for Plutonium consumption -
  Russia/ US ?
• Technology development in France, Japan, China,
  Russia US
• Hydrogen production

Technology and reliability challenges
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NUCLEAR PLANTS CAN PROVIDE THE HEAT REQUIRED FOR
NON ELECTRIC APPLICATIONS
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Nuclear Desalination

• Proven environment friendly option
• Similar costs to that of fossil fuel based
  plants.
• Safe, economic sustainable fresh water option

Combined power water desalination reduces
overall electricity costs
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Requisites for any Deployment

• Advanced yet proven technology
• Proven supply team
• Must meet financial goals
• Low generation cost
• Manageable project risks

Timing will determine plant choice
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Summary and Conclusions

• Power demand likely to be very large
• Advanced plants have been here are here now
• Development can improve economics/reliability
• Timing for deployment depends on many factors
• Key questions for deployment
• Economics, Economics, Economics
• Other factors - waste minimization, resource
  limitations
• Will political considerations play a role?

Good plant designs have great potential to make
nuclear a solution to world energy needs