Deployment Of Small Modular Reactors Research Articles

Dynamic knowledge graph approach for modelling the decarbonisation of power systems

This paper presents a dynamic knowledge graph approach that offers a reusable, interoperable, and extensible framework for modelling power systems. Domain ontologies have been developed to support a linked data representation of infrastructure data, socio-demographic data, areal attributes like demand, and models describing power systems. The knowledge graph links the data with a hierarchical representation of administrative regions, supporting geospatial queries to retrieve information about the population within the vicinity of a power plant, the number of power plants, total generation capacity, and demand within specific areas. Computational agents were developed to operate on the knowledge graph. The agents performed tasks including data uploading, updating, retrieval, processing, model construction and scenario analysis. A derived information framework was used to track the provenance of information calculated by agents involved in each scenario. The knowledge graph was populated with data describing the UK power system. Two alternative models of the transmission grid with different levels of structural resolution were instantiated, providing the foundation for the power system simulation and optimisation tasks performed by the agents. The application of the dynamic knowledge graph was demonstrated via a case study that investigates clean energy transition trajectories based on the deployment of Small Modular Reactors in the UK.

Deployment of small modular reactors in the European Union

This paper was written after the beginning of the 2022 energy and security crisis in Europe, which forced the national state governments as well as the European Union (EU) to reexamine environmental and energy strategies. The paper focuses on the role that small modular reactors (SMRs) may play as a part of a medium and long-term solution to this unprecedented situation. The history of EU climate policies and the current energy situation in the EU is broadly examined. The paper explores the potential energy, national security, and environmental benefits of nuclear power, along with its possible contribution to a net-zero economy. The main focus of the study, involving discussions with experts in the United States (US), was on the development of SMR-specific regulations, as well as the progress of SMR deployment projects in the US. The discussion explores SMR deployment challenges and potential solutions, in terms of policy recommendations applicable for the EU and its member states, in case a rapid SMR deployment becomes politically desirable.

The operator and the seven small modular reactors — An estimate of the number of reactors that a single reactor operator can safely operate

The promise of reasonable costs, shorter construction times, and rapid deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) is generating strong interest around the world. Research is being conducted in many areas to evaluate safety, reliability, and economics to keep capital costs low. Capital costs of new reactors have received much attention in the past. However, operating costs seem to have received less attention than they deserve. SMRs seek economies of scale from a large number of units deployed, raising many questions about how to operate multiple units with safety and economics comparable to (or better than) large units. The parallels between aviation and nuclear operations have been used in the past to benefit from each other’s experience and practices. In this paper, air traffic control and remote tower control workload studies are adapted to evaluate the number of reactors that can be safely operated by a single reactor operator under all reasonably assumed combinations of conditions. The conclusion of this paper is that the number of reactors that can be safely operated by a single operator is in the single digits and decreases with the level of attention required by plant conditions.

Physics Modeling for Conceptual Designs of Proposed Experiments in the Zero Energy Deuterium-2 Critical Facility for Testing Small Modular Reactor-Type Fuels

Abstract To enable the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) in Canada, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) is interested in the applicability of zero energy deuterium-2 (ZED-2) experiments for validation of Monte Carlo reactor physics codes and models for SMR reactor fuels. This applicability is investigated here by considering potential ZED-2 experiments for testing fuel assemblies (FAs) for two different SMR technologies: the pressurized-water reactor (PWR), and the fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (FHR). Each proposed set of mixed-lattice substitution experiments uses driver fuel channels containing CANDU flexible low enriched uranium/recovered uranium (CANFLEX-LEU/RU) fuel bundles. Simulation results indicate that a number of critical core configurations are possible, and should provide suitable reactor physics measurement data that can be used for physics design verification, and also for benchmarking and validation of computational reactor physics codes used in the design, operations, and safety analysis of SMRs based on PWR or FHR technologies.

Part 3: Evaluating a small modular high temperature reactor design during control rod withdrawal and a depressurised loss of coolant accidents

With safety, economics and financial risk playing a large role within the deployment of small modular reactors, it is vital that passive safety features are implemented and the maximum operational temperatures within the design are well understood. This article within the series evaluates the designed 10 MWth U-Battery concept's safety features with respect to a control rod withdrawal and a depressurised loss of coolant accident. A high temperature reactor's passive safety features depend on the Tristructural-isotropic (TRISO) fuels mechanical and thermal integrity and through experimental data this is shown to remain intact up until ~1600 °C (1873 K). This article provides the methodology of how to perform both transients, with the control rod withdrawal being undertaken using point kinetics and the depressurised loss of coolant accident with thermal feedback for both transients being provided via a 1D heat transfer model. Overall, this work has shown that during the control rod withdrawal the fuel temperature rises by 110 K and at this point the excess reactivity is compensated by the negative temperature coefficient of the fuel. During the depressurised loss of coolant accident, the maximum fuel temperature reached 1455 K after 60 h. This concludes that during both transients the temperatures maintained well below the maximum fuel operating temperature.

Economic feasibility of flexible energy productions by small modular reactors from the perspective of integrated planning

Nuclear power plants are known as low carbon baseload electricity generating options, but can they become sufficiently flexible to follow the fluctuating demand economically? Small modular reactors, conceived to address the issues associated with large sized nuclear reactors such as safety, costs, and completion timeline, can offer some flexibility through modularity. However, there remain the questions of whether and how these advanced concepts could become commercially viable for load-following electricity production. From the perspective of integrated long-term energy planning and in a scenario-based approach, this study is conceived to evaluate the economic feasibility of flexible energy productions from two first-of-a-kind demonstration projects; namely a floating nuclear power plant KLT-40S in Russia and a high temperature reactor pebble-bed module or HTR-PM in China. Although both projects are solely designed for electric-application, this study proposes the evaluation of a load-following arrangement through the co-production of hydrogen and the integration of grid-connected battery energy storage systems. All scenarios are investigated using a conservative or a reasonable worst-case approach so as to contribute to setting the bottom line for future commercial deployment of small modular reactors. Findings suggest that small modular reactors can already be commercially deployed in the short-to mid-term, and there are opportunities for further cost reductions through technological innovation and economies of repeat project implementation.

The state of progress and associated challenges in the global deployment of small modular reactors

The state of progress and associated challenges in the global deployment of small modular reactors

The state of progress and associated challenges in the global deployment of small modular reactors

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) represent an innovative class of reactors with the advantages demonstrated through the reliable history of the current fleet coupled with a unique operational paradigm that may facilitate their deployment. This paradigm refers to new markets: nuclear hybrid energy systems; baseload generation to back intermittent renewable sources or process heat applications; decentralised electricity grid generation, where electricity demand may not support large reactors or the water supply is limited; and construction of single modules at a time, allowing new investors to enter the market with lower investments risks. With the increase in wind and solar generation worldwide, the inherent electricity grid and market fluctuations must be addressed. SMRs offer one potential solution; however, the social, political, and economic challenges must be overcome in regions where nuclear power is already prevalent. Other obstacles exist in new nuclear markets, including the development of a regulatory body and supply chain.

Licensing process characteristics of Small Modular Reactors and spent nuclear fuel repository

This paper aims to increase the understanding of the licensing processes characteristics of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) compared with licensing of spent nuclear fuel repository. The basis of the SMR licensing process development lies in licensing processes used in Finland, France, the UK, Canada and the USA. These countries have been selected for this study because of their various licensing processes and recent actions in the new NPP construction. Certain aspects of the aviation industry licensing process have also been studied and selected practices have been investigated as possibly suitable for use in nuclear licensing.Suitable features for SMR licensing are emphasized and suggested. The licensing features of the spent nuclear fuel deep repository along with similar features of SMR licensing are discussed. Since there are similar types of challenges of lengthy licensing time frames, as well as modular features to be taken into account in licensing, these two different nuclear industry fields can be compared.The main SMR features to take into account in licensing are:•Standardization of the design.•Modularity.•Mass production.•Serial construction.Modularity can be divided into two different categories: the first category is simply a single power plant unit constructed of independently engineered modules (e.g. construction process for Westinghouse AP-1000 NPP) and the second one a power plant composed of many reactor modules, which are manufactured in factories and installed as needed (e.g. NuScale Power SMR design).The deep underground repository for spent nuclear fuel, such as the one planned to be built to Olkiluoto, Finland, is based on modular design and phased construction. In this case the disposal tunnels, bentonite buffer and backfill and the disposal canisters can be considered as modules. Due to its phased construction the facility has similar licensing characteristics of SMRs.A common licensing process needs to be simple and clear to ensure the feasibility of construction and deployment of SMR's as well as the deep geological repositories.One of the important aspects of nuclear licensing is the compliance to licensing requirements. In a discrete and transparent matter, systems engineering (SE) and requirements engineering (RE) are discussed with the licensing development. The sheer number of licensing requirements is daunting, interconnected in a complex fashion and long-lasting. The process and tools play a critical role in the success of the licensing effort.A few proposed examples of combined SMR and deep repository licensing applications are discussed using SE and RE principles. A synergistic discussion on licensing models, nuclear licensing simplification, as well as international approach in licensing, will be needed in the future. This would be a natural continuation to the collaborative efforts in Europe underway for existing and new large reactors.