Evaluating hybrid nuclear-thermal power systems for reduced carbon footprint: A comparative analysis

Abstract

The article provides an estimated substantiation of the concept of expanding the fuel and energy base and reducing the volume of greenhouse gas emissions with the joint use of organic and nuclear fuel in the structure of hybrid nuclear-thermal power plants. It is shown that the technological scheme (the production of saturated steam in a nuclear steam-producing plant - NPPU, and then overheating to the maximum achieved parameters in the thermal power industry due to organic fuel) leads to a decrease in the specific consumption of gas fuel for the production of electrical energy by 25–30 %, emissions of combustion products by 2.5 times (compared to thermal power plants), consumption of industrial water (compared to nuclear power plants) - by 1.5 times. It is indicated that it is possible to expand the fuel base of modern nuclear energy with thermal neutron reactors through the use of technologies mastered (breeder reactors) and promising (hybrid thermonuclear reactors). The fundamental advantage of the considered complex - JPPP-TPP - its feasibility in a short period of time with a significant reduction in the carbon footprint per unit of energy produced, which is an important condition for the sustainable growth of energy production while maintaining the ecological balance in the geosphere.