Efficiency of Off-Peak Electricity Conversion at Nuclear Power Plants Using Reversible Fuel Cells

Abstract

The article provides a comparative analysis of the efficiency of off-peak electricity conversion at nuclear power plants (NPP) using reversible fuel cells (RFC). The RFC can ensure the NPP the baseline electrical load through hydrogen production by electrolysis of water, as well as an increase in its maneuverability due to generation of peak electricity. The calculations have shown that at the current stage of technological advancements, the use of RFCs in terms of achievable efficiency of off-peak electricity conversion has advantages over the hydrogen power complex which utilizes an additional steam turbine to generate peak electricity. The achievable advantage equals 2.84-4.25% and 7.72-11.58% at the RFC efficiency in the mode of peak power generation of 50% and 60%, respectively, which is 5.1-7.66 MW and 13.9-20.85 MW more than the generated peak electricity. It should be noted that an increase in the electrolysis mode efficiency facilitates the RFC advantages – from 24.44 to 36.65% and from 29.32 to 43.98% respectively. The use of the "cold" combustion technology for hydrogen fuel ensures not only high efficiency, but also reliability and safety of the hydrogen power complex operation