On the possibility of obtaining ultra-supercritical steam parameters at Nuclear Power Plants with fast neutron reactors using non-nuclear steam superheating

Abstract

Nuclear and thermal power plants constitute the largest part of Russia’s power grid (about 67%). Today the world thermal power industry has already begun the transition to ultra-supercritical steam parameters, which makes it possible to increase the efficiency and reduce fuel consumption, and, accordingly, the discharge of harmful substances into the environment. Nuclear power plants (NPPs) need to increase their performance to keep up with other electric energy producers in the market. One of the ways to increase the energy efficiency of nuclear power plants with fast reactors is to improve the thermodynamic cycle. The paper presents computer-simulated steam-cycle arrangements for NPPs with a BN-1200 reactor using non-nuclear superheating of steam, as well as steam compression to obtain super-supercritical steam parameters, and an assessment of the efficiency of using these cycle arrangements.