Power Plant Design Pwpt1

Chapter 8: Power Reactors - Economics and Design Principles

Objectives

• Identify leading nations in nuclear energy production.

• Explain the cost components of electric energy for nuclear vs. coal plants.

• Identify reactor design process categories and key elements.

• Distinguish between water- and non-water-cooled reactors and their thermal efficiency.

• Define critical temperature, superheat, and subcooling in relation to water properties.

• Locate key systems in reactor designs for normal and emergency operations.

Overview of Nuclear Energy

• Economic Factors:

  • Nuclear energy is commercially viable and competitive within the electric utility industry.

  • Cost distribution includes facility capital costs and nuclear fuel costs.

• Unique Features of Nuclear Energy:

  • Critical to understand steam cycles, reactor layout, and operational principles.

Historical Context

• Pre-1970s Influence: Factors like the Arab Oil Embargo affected energy security considerations.

• Post-Accidents Impact: Accidents such as TMI-2 and Chernobyl led to regulatory changes and public perception shifts.

Current Status of Nuclear Power

• Countries like Belgium, France, South Korea, and Taiwan lead in nuclear power generation.

• The U.S. holds the largest capacity but has seen no new nuclear units since 1978.

Economics of Electric Utilities

• Nuclear power must meet continuous demand despite not being readily stored.

• Utilities face monopoly status and additional regulations governing nuclear energy.

Cost Components

1. Capital Costs: Includes plant investment, carrying charges, and various financing means.

   • Breakdown: Includes land preparation, equipment, and financing costs.

2. Fuel Costs: Involves acquisition, transportation, and waste disposal costs.

3. Operating and Maintenance Costs: Covers payroll, maintenance, administration, insurance, and security.

Comparative Costs**

• Nuclear vs. Coal:

  • Nuclear typically has high capital and low fuel costs while coal has lower capital but high fuel costs.

  • Regions show variations in economic viability depending on local resources and infrastructure.

Reactor Design Principles

• Design Aspects: Focus on nuclear design, materials, thermal hydraulics, economics, and control safety measures.

• Key Components: Includes fuel assembly, thermal efficiency, reactor arrangements, and heat removal systems.

Reactor Fundamentals

• Characteristics of reactors involve nuclear fission for power production, varied materials and configurations, and historical development trends.

Safety Systems

• Emphasizes contamination control, emergency core cooling, and post-accident heat management through multi-layered safety systems.