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New Challenges on Nuclear Power

Mihaela Stiopol, I C Bilegan, Stefan Pall, Romanian «Nuclear Energy» Association

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This paper is not addressing to the experts in nuclear field.

The nuclear world is continously looking for improvements, new solutions, and all these must be known by the public. The paper tries to present these new major trends. As communicator, we must be very well informed, in order to make known to the public, in a proper and efficient way, the latest achievements of this alternative technology. Our community must be proud that we have the possibility to be the “speakers” of a high technology: nuclear power which will be part of our future. The paper is a thinking/model how to present to the public the new prospects and benefices of nuclear power in achieving the requests of sustainable development.

Why this topic ?

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Present Directions of Nuclear Power Development

1. Reconsidering the nuclear fuel cycles (open, closed)

2. Improvement of PNP's present performance (rise of power generation, GFC, life extension, modern O&M techniques ...)

3. New strategies and politics (governmental financial support for new NPP, construction efforts strengthening...)

4. Near&Medium term prospects (Advanced NPP, G-III+)

5. Long term prospects (FBR, PBMR, Generation-IV...)

6. Fusion (ITER)

7. Complementary systems (Hydrogen, Hydro Pumped Storage Plants, Desalination, Heat Production ...)

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World Consumption of Primary Energy 1850-2000-2100 (Gtoe) WEC98

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PIME 2004, Barcelona 9 - 12 February

5 Source : J. Laherrère

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Estimated Electrical Energy from the use of different fuels kWh/kg

Hardwood 1

Coal 3

Heavy oil 4

Natural gas 6

Natural uranium 50 000

Low enriched uranium (3-4%), “once through” 250 000

Cyclically reprocessed uranium 3 500 000

Plutonium with reprocessing 5 000 000

Thorium with reprocessing 3 500 000

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Nuclear in the world (2002)

• 441 NPP in 31 countries (Generation II and III)

• 87 % LWR (Light water reactors)

• 360 GWe installed capacity

• 2,544 TWh electricity generated

• 16% of electricity world production• 5 groups of countries :

Korea, Japan, France, Russia, … USA Developing countries Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, ... Italy, Austria, …

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Sustainable Development: Main Advantages

of Nuclear Technologies

• Preservation of fossil ressources

• Reserves (U-Th) well spreaded & abundant

• No other interferrring uses for U- Th

• No emmisssions of GHG

• Minimal volume of waste, confined and strictly controlled

• U Costs : small % from costs of kWh, stability of the electricity price

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NUCLEAR WIND PHOTOVOLTAIC HYDRO BIOMASS CCUSC

greenhouse gas emissions

related to electricity

generation

COASTINLAND19962005PUMPMICROWOODSLUDGE

ANNUAL USE

yearkW

kWh

peak

el 760030001000750800100050006000500065005500

LIFE [year] 40 20 20 20 25 40 40 15 30 30 30

el

eqCO

kWh

g2

INVESTMENTGOODS (#)

FUELCYCLE

COMBUSTION

(#)construction + maintenance + demolition

7 9 25 130 60 8 15 55 540 400 850

Responsibility of Electricity Generation for C02 equiv. Emissions “Life Cycle”

(source: EI, KUL)

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Generation IIGeneration I

Generation IIIGeneration IV

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“Generation III” – Main features

• Construction time: 4 years

• Nuclear fuels: UO2 and MOX

• Fuel Burnup > 60 GWj/t,

• Gross Capacity Factor > 0,9

• Outage and refueling period : 24 months

• Core damage frequency < 10-5 ev./ reactor. year

• Containement release frequency < 10-6 ev./ reactor. year

• Collective workers dose < 0,8 man.Sv /year

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“Generation III” Reactor Concepts

• ABWR+ GE BWR 1350MWe (L)

• SWR 1000 Framatome ANP BWR 1013MWe

• ESBWR GE BWR 1380MWe

• AP600 Westinghouse PWR 610MWe (L)

• AP1000 Westinghouse PWR 1090MWe

• APWR+ Mitsubishi PWR 1538MWe

• EPR Framatome ANP PWR 1500MWe

• S80++ ABB PWR 1345MWe (L)

• PBMR ESKOM HTR 120MWe

• GT-MHR GA HTR 300MWe

+ : in construction or in operation(L) : licensed by NRC

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Generation IV international ForumOverall Mission :

Demployable by 2030 Competitive in various markets With significant advances in :

Sustainability Economics Safety and reliability Proliferation resistant Physical protection

Suitable for different applications : Electricity, Hydrogen, Desalination, Heat production

Development of one or severalnuclear energy systems which are :

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Goals for Future Nuclear Energy Systems Generation IV

Save natural resources (U, Th)

Reuse (U, Pu) fromexisting reactors

Enhance proliferation resistance

Pu burning,Integration of fuel

cycle

Minimize Waste production

Integral recycling of actinides

SAFETY

Operation/Accidents Severe conditions

ECONOMICS

CompetitivenessInvestment cost

5 fundamental criteria Missions and additional criteria

Electricity generation

Hydrogen productionHigh temperature process heat

Long-lived radioactive waste burning

High sustainability

Symbiosis with existing LWRs

Flexible adaptation to diverse fuel cycles

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Generation IV international Forum The 6 reactors to be studied and tested:

SODIUM-COOLED FAST REACTOR

LEAD-COOLED FAST REACTOR

VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE REACTOR

GAS-COOLED FAST REACTOR

SUPER-CRITICAL WATER REACTOR

MOLTEN SALT REACTOR

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The goals of the “Generation IV”Adopted by GIF in March 2001

1. “Sustainability”

2. “Reliability and Safety”

3. “Economy”

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• Provide sustainable energy generation that meets clean air objectives and promotes long-term availability of systems and effective fuel utilization for worldwide energy production

• Minimize and manage their nuclear waste and notably reduce the long term stewardship burden in the future, thereby improving protection for the public health and the environment

• Increase the assurance that they are a very unattractive and least desirable route for diversion or theft of weapons usable materials

Technology goal 1: Sustainability

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• Excel in safety and reliability

• Have a very low likelihood and degree of reactor core damage

• Eliminate the need for offsite emergency response

Technology goal 2 :Reliability and Safety

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• Have a clear life-cycle cost advantage over other energy sources

• Have a level of financial risk comparable to other energy projects

Technology goal 3:Economy

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•The purpose of ITER is to demonstrate that electrical power from thermonuclear fusion is indeed scientifically and technically feasible.

•In July 2001 was finalized the design of ITER which includes construction and testing of key, full-scale reactor components in collaboration with major industrial partners.

•The estimated cost is about $/€ 4.5 billion and this would take about ten years.

•ITER is a joint project conducted by the European Union, Japan, the Russian Federation and Canada, under the auspices of the IAEA.

•The United States has recently announced it will join the ITER project. China also recently expressed interest in joining the project.

•Sites for hosting the facility have been offered by Canada, the EU (France, Spain) and Japan. A decision on whether France (Cadarache) or Spain (Vandellos) should be put forward as the EU candidate state to host the ITER project is expected in November 2003.

FUSION: ITERInternational Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor

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The Initiative “Generation IV”

“While we cannot predict the future (of nuclear energy), we can see that there is an opportunity to shape it … ”

William D. Magwood, IV (USDOE)

2000 ???

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CONCLUSIONS:

1. The nuclear power remain the most effective mean for base load electricity

generation and to reduce CO2 emissions

2. Their qualities: safety, reliability, economicity, cost stability, security of supply, self-improvement make it compatible with the goals of sustainable development for tomorrow’s world

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CONCLUSIONS:

3. In terms of public acceptance of nuclear power, the governments, together with the professional organizations (Pronuclear NGO), should play an active role in educating the public (more information, transparency, public debates, etc.)

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AP600 Reactor(PWR, passive safety)

GT-MHR project

(HTR, Brayton cycle)

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PBMR (Eskom)

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PBMR with Brayton cycle

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TRISO Nuclear fuel

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