Abstract
The simple cycle recuperated (SCR) and intercooled cycle recuperated (ICR) are highly efficient Brayton helium gas turbine cycles, designed for the gas-cooled fast reactor (GFR) and very-high-temperature reactor (VHTR) generation IV (Gen IV) nuclear power plants (NPPs). This paper documents risk analyses, which consider technical and economic aspects of the NPP. The sensitivity analyses are presented that interrogate the plant design, performance, and operational schedule and range from component efficiencies, system pressure losses, operating at varied power output due to short-term load-following or long-term reduced power operations to prioritize other sources such as renewables. The sensitivities of the economic and construction schedule are also considered in terms of the discount rates, capital and operational costs, and increased costs in decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) activity due to changes in the discount rates. This was made possible by using a tool designed for this study to demonstrate the effect on the “noncontingency” baseline levelized unit electricity cost (LUEC) of both cycles. The SCR with a cycle efficiency of 50% has a cheaper baseline LUEC of $58.41/MWh in comparison to the ICR (53% cycle efficiency), which has an LUEC of $58.70/MWh. However, the cost of the technical and economic risks is cheaper for the ICR resulting in a final LUEC of $70.45/MWh (ICR) in comparison to the SCR ($71.62/MWh) for the year 2020 prices.
Highlights
Generation IV (Gen IV) reactor performance and economics are key imperatives for the design and competitiveness of Nuclear Power Plants (NPP) in comparison to the incumbent design and other sources of power generation
The lower component efficiency range reduces the plant cycle efficiency by 1.1% (SCR) and 0.9% (ICR) because more work is required by the compressors to raise the helium to the required pressure
The results indicate that the discount rate, operational non-fuel recurring costs, fuel cycle and reactor performance have the biggest impact on the NPP Levelised Unit Electricity Cost (LUEC)
Summary
Generation IV (Gen IV) reactor performance and economics are key imperatives for the design and competitiveness of Nuclear Power Plants (NPP) in comparison to the incumbent design and other sources of power generation. With the availability of several cycle choices, it is important to perform comparative techno-economic analyses to improve the understanding of the technology and aid the decision-making process. Such analyses needs to be complemented with an understanding of the risks in order to quantify their effects on the Levelised Unit Electricity Cost (LUEC) of the plant for the purpose of providing contingencies for the plant capital investment, operations and end of life. The objective of this paper is to conduct technical and economic risk analyses associated with plant design, performance operation and capital finance and to assess the effect on the ‘non-contingency’ baseline LUEC. The analyses is performed using a tool design for this study to analyse the Simple Cycle Recuperated (SCR) and Intercooled Cycle Recuperated (ICR) in a closed Brayton direct configuration using helium as the working fluid
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