Nederlands
Nuclear Cogeneration based on HTR Technology
Summary Report
INCOGEN Working Group: ECN, IRI, KEMA, NUCON, ROMAWA
Edited by: ECN, September 1997
Remark: ECN-Nuclear and KEMA-Nuclear merged in 1998 into NRG.
Abstract:
The Netherlands Programme to Intensify Nuclear Competence
(PINK) supported the technical and economical evaluation of a direct
cycle HTR installation for combined heat and power generation. This
helium cooled, graphite moderated HTR based on the German HTR-M,
is named INCOGEN, which is an acronym for Inherently safe
Nuclear COGENeration. A partnership of ECN, IRI, KEMA BV,
Stork Nucon BV and Romawa BV performed the study financed
through PINK by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
The INCOGEN reference is a 40 MW HTR design by the US
company LPI. The energy conversion system comprises a single-shaft
helium turbine-compressor (2.3 - 1.0 MPa) directly coupled
with a 16.5 MW generator, a recuperator and low-temperature
(150oC to 40oC) heat exchangers (23 MW).
Spherical fuel elements (60 mm diameter) will be added little by
little (or in French peu-à-peu) which keeps the core only marginally
critical. Void core volume can accommodate added fuel for several
years until defuelling. Analyses of failure scenarios (LOCA, LOFA,
ATWS) show no excess of maximum acceptable fuel temperature of
1600oC. Scoping analyses indicate no severe graphite fires.
Transient analyses of the turbine-compressor system indicate
adequate control flexibility. Optimization and endurance testing of
the helium turbine-compressor is recommended.
Amendment of IAEA safety requirements with its focus on LWR, is
recommended to further address HTR technology. The credit given to
the containment of fission products by the coated particles could be a
major issue in this amendment. As a consequence of the inherent and
passive safety characteristics of the INCOGEN design, the individual
and social risks in relation to incidents and accidents are negligible.
A standard design and a fixed set of safety objectives and
requirements is preferred for the licensing process.
Market potential for INCOGEN units is expected to first emerge in
regions where competitively priced natural gas is not available.
Benefits of a pooling system for operation and maintenance cost
reduction are identified. Dutch experience with natural gas fired units
show that a market share for cogeneration of over 30 % can be
achieved. Given a viable technology and a favourable price structure,
INCOGEN units could become an acceptable substitute for fossil
fired combined heat and power units.
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