Handbook of Generation IV Nuclear Reactors

Igor Pioro

• Publisher: Woodhead Publishing
• Year: 2016
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• eBook ISBN:
  9780081001622
• Subtopic: Industrial Health & Safety
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Handbook of Generation IV Nuclear Reactors presents information on the current fleet of Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) with water-cooled reactors (Generation III and III+) (96% of 430 power reactors in the world) that have relatively low thermal efficiencies (within the range of 32 36%) compared to those of modern advanced thermal power plants (combined cycle gas-fired power plants – up to 62% and supercritical pressure coal-fired power plants – up to 55%). Moreover, thermal efficiency of the current fleet of NPPs with water-cooled reactors cannot be increased significantly without completely different innovative designs, which are Generation IV reactors. Nuclear power is vital for generating electrical energy without carbon emissions. Complete with the latest research, development, and design, and written by an international team of experts, this handbook is completely dedicated to Generation IV reactors. - Presents the first comprehensive handbook dedicated entirely to generation IV nuclear reactors - Reviews the latest trends and developments - Complete with the latest research, development, and design information in generation IV nuclear reactors - Written by an international team of experts in the field

1

Introduction

A survey of the status of electricity generation in the world^∗

I.L. Pioro¹, R.B. Duffey², P.L. Kirillov³, and R. Panchal^{1 1}University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada ²DSM Associates Inc., Ammon, Idaho Falls, ID, United States ³State Scientific Centre of the Russian Federation - Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (IPPE) named after A.I. Leipunsky, Obninsk, Russia

Abstract

It is well known that electrical power generation is the key factor for advances in industry, agriculture, technology, and the level of living. In addition, a strong power industry with diverse energy sources is very important for country independence. In general, electrical energy can be generated from burning mined and refined energy sources such as coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear as well as from harnessing energy sources such as hydro, biomass, wind, geothermal, solar, and wave power. Today, the main sources for electrical energy generation are thermal power, primarily using coal and secondarily natural gas; “large” hydraulic power from dams and rivers; and nuclear power from various reactor designs. The balance of the energy sources is from using oil, biomass, wind, geothermal, and solar power, and this has visible impact just in some countries. This chapter presents the current status of electricity generation in the world, various sources of industrial electricity generation, and the role of the nuclear power industry with a comparison of nuclear energy systems to other energy systems.

Keywords

Electrical energy consumption; Electricity generation; Human Development Index; Nuclear power; Thermal power

1.1. Statistics on electricity generation in the world

It is well known that electric power generation usage is the key factor for advances in industry, agriculture, and the socioeconomic level of living (see Table 1.1 and Fig. 1.1; Pioro and Duffey, 2015; Pioro and Kirillov, 2013a; Pioro, 2012). In addition, a strong power industry with diverse energy sources is very important for a country's independence. In general, electrical energy (see Fig. 1.2) can be generated from burning mined and refined energy sources such as coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear as well as from harnessing energy sources such as hydro, biomass, wind, geothermal, solar, and wave power.

Today, the main sources for global electrical energy generation are

1. thermal power, primarily using coal (39.9%) and secondarily natural gas (22.6%);

2. large hydraulic power from dams...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Related titles
• Copyright
• List of contributors
• Woodhead Publishing Series in Energy
• Foreword
• Preface
• Nomenclature
• 1. Introduction: A survey of the status of electricity generation in the world
• Part One. Generation IV nuclear-reactor concepts
• Part Two. Current status of Generation IV activities in selected countries
• Part Three. Related topics to Generation IV nuclear reactor concepts
• Appendix A1. Additional materials (schematics, layouts, T–s diagrams, basic parameters, and photos) on thermal and nuclear power plants
• Appendix A2. Comparison of thermophysical properties of reactor coolants
• Appendix A3. Thermophysical properties of fluids at subcritical and critical/supercritical conditions
• Appendix A4. Heat transfer and pressure drop in forced convection to fluids at supercritical pressures
• Appendix A5. World experience in nuclear steam reheat
• Appendix A6. Comparison of thermophysical properties of selected gases at atmospheric pressure
• Appendix A7. Supplementary tables
• Appendix A8. Unit conversion
• Index