HTR-TN Achievements and Prospects for Future Developments

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Hittner ◽  
Carmen Angulo ◽  
Virginie Basini ◽  
Edgar Bogusch ◽  
Eric Breuil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Process ◽  
Coupled System ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Strategic Partnership ◽  
Normal Operation ◽  
Block Type ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Helium Atmosphere ◽  
Process Heat ◽  
Air Ingress

It is already 10 years since the (European) High Temperature Reactor Technology Network (HTR-TN) launched a program for development of HTR technology, which expanded through three successive Euratom framework programs, with many projects in line with the network strategy. Widely relying in the beginning on the legacy of the former European HTR developments (DRAGON, AVR, THTR, etc.) that it contributed to safeguard, this program led to advances in HTR/VHTR technologies and produced significant results, which can contribute to the international cooperation through Euratom involvement in the Generation IV International Forum (GIF). the main achievements of the European program, performed in complement to efforts made in several European countries and other GIF partners, are presented: they concern the validation of computer codes (reactor physics, as well as system transient analysis from normal operation to air ingress accident and fuel performance in normal and accident conditions), materials (metallic materials for vessel, direct cycle turbines and intermediate heat exchanger, graphite, etc.), component development, fuel manufacturing and irradiation behavior, and specific HTR waste management (fuel and graphite). Key experiments have been performed or are still ongoing, like irradiation of graphite and of fuel material (PYCASSO experiment), high burn-up fuel PIE, safety test and isotopic analysis, IHX mock-up thermohydraulic test in helium atmosphere, air ingress experiment for a block type core, etc. Now HTR-TN partners consider that it is time for Europe to go a step forward toward industrial demonstration. In line with the orientations of the “Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan)” recently issued by the European Commission that promotes a strategy for development of low-carbon energy technologies and mentions Generation IV nuclear systems as part of key technologies, HTR-TN proposes to launch a program for extending the contribution of nuclear energy to industrial process heat applications addressing (1) the development of a flexible HTR that can be coupled to many different process heat and cogeneration applications with very versatile requirements, (2) the development of coupling technologies for such coupling, (3) the possible adaptations of process heat applications required for nuclear coupling, and (4) the integration and optimization of the whole coupled system. As a preliminary step for this ambitious program, HTR-TN endeavors to create a strategic partnership between nuclear industry and R&D and process heat user industries.

HTR-TN Achievements and Prospects for Future Developments

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Hittner ◽  
Carmen Angulo ◽  
Virginie Basini ◽  
Edgar Bogusch ◽  
Eric Breuil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Strategic Partnership ◽  
Normal Operation ◽  
Block Type ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Hydraulic Test ◽  
Helium Atmosphere ◽  
Process Heat ◽  
Air Ingress ◽  
Irradiated Fuel

It is already 10 years since the (European) HTR Technology Network (HTR-TN) launched a programme for the development of HTR Technology, which expanded through 3 successive Euratom Framework Programmes, with many coordinated projects in line with the strategy of the Network. Widely relying in the beginning on the legacy of the former European HTR developments (DRAGON, AVR, THTR...) that it contributed to safeguard, this programme led to advances in HTR/VHTR technologies and produced significant results, which can benefit to the international HTR community through the Euratom involvement in the Generation IV International Forum (GIF). The main achievements of the European programme performed in complement to national efforts in Europe and already taking into consideration the complementarity with contributions of other GIF partners are presented: they concern the validation of computer codes (reactor physics, system transient analysis from normal operation to air ingress accident and fuel performance in normal and accident conditions), materials (metallic materials for the vessel, the direct cycle turbines and the intermediate heat exchanger, graphite...), component development, fuel manufacturing and irradiation behaviour and specific HTR waste management (irradiated fuel and graphite). Key experiments have been performed or are still ongoing, like irradiation of graphite to high fluence, fuel material irradiation (PYCASSO experiment), high burn-up irradiated fuel PIE, safety test and isotopic analysis, IHX mock-up thermo-hydraulic test in helium atmosphere, air ingress experiment for a block type core, etc. Now HTR-TN partners consider that it is time for Europe to go a step forward towards industrial demonstration. In line with the orientations of the “Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan)” recently issued by the European Commission, which promotes a strategy for the deployment of low carbon energy technologies and mentions Generation IV nuclear systems as one of the key contributors to this strategy, HTR-TN proposes to launch a programme for extending the contribution of nuclear energy to industrial process heat applications addressing jointly 1) The development of a flexible HTR able to be coupled to many different process heat and cogeneration applications with very versatile requirements 2) The development of coupling technologies with industrial processes 3) The possible adaptations of process heat applications which might be needed for coupling with a HTR and 4) The integration and optimisation of the whole coupled system. As a preliminary step for this ambitious programme, HTR-TN endeavours presently to create a strategic partnership between nuclear industry and R&D and process heat user industries.

The future of low carbon industrial process heat: A comparison between solar thermal and heat pumps

Solar Energy ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 173 ◽  
pp. 893-904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Meyers ◽  
Bastian Schmitt ◽  
Klaus Vajen
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Process ◽  
Heat Pumps ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
The Future ◽  
Process Heat

A New Impetus for Developing Industrial Process Heat Applications of HTR in Europe

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Hittner ◽  
Sander de Groot ◽  
Gerard Griffay ◽  
Pascal Yvon ◽  
Ludwik Pienkowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Source ◽  
Electricity Market ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Strategic Alliance ◽  
Industrial Process ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Coupling System ◽  
Nuclear Systems ◽  
Process Heat ◽  
Industrial Risks

Due to its high operating temperature (up to 850°C with present technologies, possibly higher in the longer term), and its power range (a few hundred MW), the modular HTR could address a larger scope of industrial process heat needs than other present nuclear systems. Even if HTR can contribute to competitive electricity generation, this potential for industrial heat applications is the main incentive for developing this type of reactor, as it could open to nuclear energy a large non-electricity market. However several issues must be addressed and solved successfully for HTR to actually enter the market of industrial process heat: 1) as an absolute prerequisite, to develop a strategic alliance of nuclear industry and R&D with process heat user industries. 2) to solve some key technical issues, as for instance the design of a reactor and of a coupling system flexible enough to reconcile a single reactor design with multiple applications and versatile requirements for the heat source, and the development of special adaptations of the application processes or even of new processes to fit with the assets and constraints of HTR heat supply, 3) to solve critical industrial issues such as economic competitiveness, availability and 4) to address the licensing issues raised by the conjunction of nuclear and industrial risks. In line with IAEA initiatives for supporting non-electric applications of nuclear energy and with the orientations of the SET-Plan of the European Commission, the (European) HTR Technology Network (HTR-TN) proposes a new project, together with industrial process heat user partners, to provide a first impetus to the strategic alliance between nuclear and non-nuclear industries. End user requirements will be expressed systematically on the basis of inputs from industrial partners on various types of process heat applications. These requirements will be confronted with the capabilities of the HTR heat source, in order to point out possible discrepancies and issues, to assess the feasibility of different coupling schemes and to identify development needs. Partners from nuclear regulatory organisations will also address the feasibility of licensing such coupling schemes. The issues they will raise will be taken into consideration for defining coupling design bases and identifying R&D needs. A detailed roadmap for designing an industrial demonstrator of a HTR coupled with process heat applications will be inferred from this analysis, as well as R&D actions required for supporting the development of the reactor, of the coupling system and of possible adaptations or innovations in industrial processes.

scholarly journals Analysis and Optimization of a Novel Hexagonal Waveguide Concentrator for Solar Thermal Applications

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 2146
Author(s):  
Karunesh Kant ◽  
Karthik Nithyanandam ◽  
Ranga Pitchumani
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Process ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Solar Irradiation ◽  
Maintenance Cost ◽  
Solar Concentrator ◽  
Thermal Desalination ◽  
Process Heat ◽  
Solar Thermal Applications ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Operation And Maintenance Cost

This paper analyzes a novel, cost-effective planar waveguide solar concentrator design that is inspired by cellular hexagonal structures in nature with the benefits of facile installation and low operation and maintenance cost. A coupled thermal and optical analysis of solar irradiation through an ideal hexagonal waveguide concentrator integrated with a linear receiver is presented, along with a cost analysis methodology, to establish the upper limit of performance. The techno-economic model, coupled with numerical optimization, is used to determine designs that maximized power density and minimized the cost of heat in the temperature range of 100–250 °C, which constitutes more than half of the industrial process heat demand. Depending on the incident solar irradiation and the application temperature, the cost of heat for the optimal design configuration ranged between 0.1–0.27 $/W and 0.075–0.18 $/W for waveguide made of ZK7 glass and polycarbonate, respectively. A techno-economic analysis showed the potential of the technology to achieve cost as low as 80 $/m2 and 61 $/m2 for waveguide made of ZK7 glass and polycarbonate material, respectively, which is less than half the cost of state-of-the-art parabolic trough concentrators. Overall, the hexagonal waveguide solar concentrator technology shows immense potential for decarbonizing the industrial process heat and thermal desalination sectors.

scholarly journals Recent Advances in Protective Coatings for Accident Tolerant Zr-Based Fuel Claddings

Coatings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 557
Author(s):  
Egor Kashkarov ◽  
Bright Afornu ◽  
Dmitrii Sidelev ◽  
Maksim Krinitcyn ◽  
Veronica Gouws ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protective Coatings ◽  
Zirconium Alloys ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Normal Operation ◽  
Severe Accidents ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Water Reactors ◽  
Accident Scenarios ◽  
Accident Conditions ◽  
Directed Research

Zirconium-based alloys have served the nuclear industry for several decades due to their acceptable properties for nuclear cores of light water reactors (LWRs). However, severe accidents in LWRs have directed research and development of accident tolerant fuel (ATF) concepts that aim to improve nuclear fuel safety during normal operation, operational transients and possible accident scenarios. This review introduces the latest results in the development of protective coatings for ATF claddings based on Zr alloys, involving their behavior under normal and accident conditions in LWRs. Great attention has been paid to the protection and oxidation mechanisms of coated claddings, as well as to the mutual interdiffusion between coatings and zirconium alloys. An overview of recent developments in barrier coatings is introduced, and possible barrier layers and structure designs for suppressing mutual diffusion are proposed.

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