Upload
lediep
View
219
Download
2
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
The Pebble Bed Modular Reactor: An Attractive Future
Option
Como, ITALY
Dr Dave Wimpey
10 – 14 June 2008
The Pebble Bed Modular The Pebble Bed Modular Reactor: An Attractive Future Reactor: An Attractive Future
OptionOption
Como, ITALY
Dr Dave Wimpey
10 – 14 June 2008
The TechnologyThe TechnologyThe 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.
The ProjectThe ProjectThe Project
PBMR (Pty) Ltd intends to:
• Build a demonstration module at Koebergnear Cape Town
• Build an associated fuel plant at Pelindaba near Pretoria
• Commercialize and market 165 MWemodules in single or multi-module configuration for the local and export markets
• Transform PBMR (Pty) Ltd into a world-class company
Current InvestorsCurrent InvestorsCurrent Investors
• South African Government (DPE)• Eskom – the South African national utility• Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) – a national
development financial institution• Westinghouse• Negotiating with other potential investors
Eskom Power Stations 2001Eskom Power Stations 2001Eskom Power Stations 2001
Pretoria
Johannesburg
Bloemfontein
Cape TownEastLondon
Port Elizabeth
Durban
Maputo
MOZAMBIQUE
LESOTHO
NAMIBIA
CC
CCCC
CC
CCCC
P
H
P
G
GN
H
SWAZILAND
BOTSWANA C
Growth in SA Electricity Demand
Growth in SA Electricity Growth in SA Electricity DemandDemand
• Compound annual demand growth of 3.4% per year since 1992 (2004 peak 34,210MW compared to 22,640 in 1992)
• National Energy Regulator’s 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
• 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
Diversity of Energy SourcesDiversity of Energy SourcesDiversity of Energy Sources
World Electricity MarketWorld Electricity MarketWorld 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
• 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 nation’s 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)
Resurgence of Nuclear Energy
Resurgence of Nuclear Resurgence of Nuclear EnergyEnergy
Resurgence of Nuclear Energy
Resurgence of Nuclear Resurgence of Nuclear EnergyEnergy
• 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
Views on NuclearViews on NuclearViews 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
Views on PBMRViews on PBMRViews 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, Germany’s 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.
PBMR could be the first successful commercial Generation IV reactor
PBMR could be the first successful PBMR could be the first successful commercial Generation IV reactorcommercial Generation IV reactor
Salient FeaturesSalient FeaturesSalient 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
PBMR Uniquely Positioned
PBMR Uniquely PBMR Uniquely PositionedPositioned
• Non-CO2 emitting option in climate change debate
• Inherent safety reducing regulation burden
• Small unit flexibility with short construction time
• 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
• In line with NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa Development) initiatives
Advantages to South Africa
Advantages Advantages to South Africato South Africa
• Ability to site on coast, away from coal fields
• RSA based “turnkey” supplier allows localisation of manufacture
• Locally controlled technology limiting foreign exchange exposure
• About 56 000 local jobs created during full commercial phase
Capabilities of South Africa
Capabilities of South Capabilities of South AfricaAfrica
• Completed a large number of FOAKE projects (eg SASOL, ESKOM, deep level mining..)
• Has industrial infrastructure to support sophisticated projects
• Eskom has operated Koeberg nuclear power plant successfully for 20 years and created ancillary infrastructure
• SA has a well established nuclear regulator
Why is PBMR safe and environmentally friendlyWhy Why is is PBMR PBMR safe and safe and
environmentally friendlyenvironmentally friendly
Safety FeaturesSafety FeaturesSafety Features
• Simple design base
• Passive safety achieved through inherent design characteristics
• The energy transfer medium (helium) is chemically and neutronically 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
Core may never meltor be overheated to
unallowable temperature
Nuclear transients maynever lead to unallowablepower output excursions
or cause unallowable fuel element overheating
Fuel elements may neverbe allowed to corrode
excessively
Core may never be allowed todeform or change composition
Thermalstability
Nuclear stability
Chemicalstability
Mechanicalstability
Reactor cannot melt,practically no releaseof fission products,
catastrophe-freenuclear energy
Four Principles of Stability for Reactors with Enhanced Safety
Characteristics Incorporated into the PBMR Design
Four Principles of Stability for Four Principles of Stability for Reactors with Enhanced Safety Reactors with Enhanced Safety
Characteristics Incorporated into Characteristics Incorporated into the PBMR Designthe PBMR Design
Reactor Design: PBMRReactor Design: PBMRReactor Design: PBMR
Reactivity Control System(RCS)
Reserve Shutdown System(RSS)
Core Unloading Device(CUD)
Core Structures(CS)
Reactor Pressure Vessel(RPV)
(Click to go to full slide)
PBMR Passive Decay Heat Removal
PBMR Passive Decay Heat PBMR Passive Decay Heat RemovalRemovalCentre Reflector Pebble Bed Side Reflector Core Barrel RPV RCCS Citadel
RadiationConduction
Conduction
Conduction
Convection
Radiation
Convection
Conduction
Radiation
Convection
Conduction
Convection
Radiation
Convection
Conduction
Radiation
900930960990
102010501080111011401170120012301260129013201350138014101440147015001530156015901620
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72
Time (hrs)
Tem
pera
ture
(C)
Maximum Fuel Temp Average Fuel Temp
Fuel Handling and Fuel Handling and Proliferation Resistance (1)Proliferation Resistance (1)
Fresh fuel storage & loading device
Fresh fuel charge lock isolation block
Passive cooling system chimneys
Spent fuel storage tanks
Dust filterScrap fuel
storage tankCore unloading devices
Burn-up & activity measurement
system
PBMR-400: Plutonium build-up
0.000
0.010
0.020
0.030
0.040
0.050
0.060
0.070
0.080
0.090
0.100
Charged 1st Pass 2nd Pass 3rd Pass 4th Pass 5th Pass 6th Pass
Pu M
ass
(g/P
ebbl
e)
PU - 239PU - 240PU - 241PU - 242
Fresh Fuel (FF)
C ore Fuel (C F)
IAEA Instrum ent R oom
(FF)
(CF)
(SF)
Spent Fuel (SF)
W aste
Spent Fuel S torageand rem oval system .
Sym bol DescriptionIA EAS urveillance Cam eras.IA EAS ealing
Legend:
HLW Storage
IA EA Sea led m easuring access tube.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Core UnloadingD evice
Sam ple Takingfor P IE
FM
G
FM
FM
FM
Tube for SF N DAandtem peraturem easurem ent
Fuel FlowM onito rFM
FM
Tube for W aste NDAandtem pera turem easurem ent
IAEA FUEL VERIFICATIO N SYSTEM
No: M Z000-021379-1117
IA EA AuthenticationIn te rface
Fuel Handling and Fuel Handling and Proliferation ResistanceProliferation Resistance
PBMR-400: Plutonium build-up
0.000
0.010
0.020
0.030
0.040
0.050
0.060
0.070
0.080
0.090
0.100
Charged 1st Pass 2nd Pass 3rd Pass 4th Pass 5th Pass 6th Pass
Pu M
ass
(g/P
ebbl
e)
PU - 239PU - 240PU - 241PU - 242
Fresh Fuel (FF)
Core Fuel (CF)
(FF)
(CF)
IAEA Instrum ent Room
(SF)
Spent Fuel (SF)
W aste
Spent Fuel S torageand rem oval system .
Sym bol D escriptionIAEASurveillance Cam eras.IAEASealing
Legend:
HLW Storage
IAEA Sealed m easuring access tube.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Core UnloadingDevice
Sam ple Takingfor PIE
FM
G
FM
FM
FM
Tube for SF NDAandtem peraturem easurem ent
Fuel F lowM onitorFM
FM
Tube for W aste NDAandtem peraturem easurem ent
IAEA FUEL VERIFICATION SYSTEM
No: M Z000-021379-1117
IAEA AuthenticationInterface
•Plutonium produced during 6 passes indicate unacceptably high PU-240content for a reliable explosive•100 000 fuel spheres to be diverted tocollect sufficient material
Nuclear material safeguards planagreed with IAEA and Containment and surveillance systems will typicallyconform to the schematic above
Demonstration Plant Building
Demonstration Demonstration Plant BuildingPlant Building
Reactor Building
Generator HouseAuxilliary Building
PBMR Fuel PlantPBMR Fuel PlantPBMR Fuel Plant
• Capacity of 270 000 fuel elements per annum• Will produce fuel of the same design and quality as the German
reference fuel (AVR 21-2)• Hosted by NECSA at Pelindaba• NECSA has applied to the nuclear regulator for licence to operate• Plant in detail design phase• Uhde SA, subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp GmbH is the EPCM contractor • NUKEM GmbH (responsible for design & manufacture of AVR fuel)
assisting PBMR with the design• Plant will be ready for cold commissioning in 2011, and will deliver fuel
for the reactor in 2014
Helium Test FacilityHelium Test Facility
The 43 m high Helium Test Facility at Pelindaba will test the helium blower, valves, heaters, coolers, recuperator and other components at pressures up to 95 bar and 1200 degrees C.
Helium Test FacilityHelium Test Facility
High Pressure Test Unit High Pressure Test Unit of HTTFof HTTF
High Temperature Test Unit High Temperature Test Unit of HTTFof HTTF
Thank YouThank You
End
Reactor Unit
Reactivity Control System(RCS)
Reserve Shutdown System(RSS)
Core Unloading Device(CUD)
Core Structures(CS)
Reactor Pressure Vessel(RPV)
BACK
MPS Process Flow Diagram
BACK
Fuel element design for PBMR
BACK
Main Power System
BACK