Research on the Siting Problem of Economy-Oriented Small Heating Nuclear Reactor Based on System Dynamics

Abstract

With the advancement of engineering technology and the discussion of the simplification of the contingency planning area for small nuclear reactors, the traditional disruptive factors in the siting process of nuclear energy projects are gradually solved. However, this comes at the cost of increased investment in the project. Therefore, it must be considered whether the economic cost will become a new “disruptive” factor. Research on the economical oriented siting methods of small nuclear reactors can help to provide more information for project siting decisions earlier through economic analysis. This study uses a system dynamics approach to establish a model framework for economy-oriented project site selection, named EOSSD (Economy-Oriented Siting of Small Nuclear Reactors System Dynamics Model). The model framework seeks the theoretically optimal location of a small nuclear reactor site with the goal of minimizing the total cost of heating. The case study takes the small heating nuclear reactor in Qiqihar, Northeast China, which is in the project conception stage as a research object, and the simulation results are analyzed and the following conclusions are drawn: (1) The price of heat supply adopts a fixed unit price, that is, when there is no difference in the rate of heat source (supply point) to each heat exchange station (demand point), small nuclear reactors tend to be arranged at the “economic center of gravity”; (2) When the unit price of heating varies with the distance between the heat exchange station and the small nuclear reactor, the distance is an important factor affecting the cost of heating, and the coordinates of the small nuclear reactor tend to coincide with a certain point; (3) In China, the impact of the product types of small reactors on the economics of site selection is not obvious. Finally, through the analysis and conclusions, the paper discusses two application suggestions: (1) Based on the microscopic perspective, the model with refined parameters will provide a certain degree of reference for the improvement of nuclear reactor design by providing site opinions in terms of cost and economy. (2) Based on the macroscopic perspective, the model results show that the layout of the small stack should be close to or coincide with the “demand”. Simplifying the contingency planning area of small reactors and bringing them closer to the market point will help their economical improvement, which provides economic support for the “relaxation” of relevant policies.