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