Analyzing Small Nuclear Power Reactors
The global energy jigsaw is constantly and increasingly being rearranged with the nuclear power supply. Nuclear power is increasingly presenting an alternative to become the mainstay of energy needs for the new society till the time developments are further underway for cleaner energy sources. The harnessing of this energy would not have been possible without the inventing effort of Le? Szil?rd in 1933. This was further presented in application in the Chicago Pile 1 which went critical on Dec 2, 1942. Thereby the first nuclear reactor was born. Therefore as a train cannot be in motion without its engine, nuclear energy needs reactor technology to constant progress in order to achieve global energy needs.
Historically, it was a general opinion that the bigger a reactor the better the energy yield. Though, the thumb rule remains in effect the changing geo political forces have ensured that new qualifiers ne added to this equation as efficiency, adaptability, control and scalability. This has led the scientific community to pursue a different direction of whether small can also be beautiful and as efficient as the big one? Thereby is it possible to answer this question by more small reactors geographically spread in a grid rather than depending on a big one with bigger environmental concerns as also allowing independent mobile application.
Aruvian’s R’search’s report on Analyzing Small Nuclear Power reactors is a comprehensive evaluation of this future defining scenario as under:
Historically, it was a general opinion that the bigger a reactor the better the energy yield. Though, the thumb rule remains in effect the changing geo political forces have ensured that new qualifiers ne added to this equation as efficiency, adaptability, control and scalability. This has led the scientific community to pursue a different direction of whether small can also be beautiful and as efficient as the big one? Thereby is it possible to answer this question by more small reactors geographically spread in a grid rather than depending on a big one with bigger environmental concerns as also allowing independent mobile application.
Aruvian’s R’search’s report on Analyzing Small Nuclear Power reactors is a comprehensive evaluation of this future defining scenario as under:
- a) Historical summary of nuclear reactors beginning from 1930 and further powered into the industrial era by the military civil axis.
- b) Theoretical basics of how reactor technology which helps a kg of U235 generates 3 million times more energy than a kg of coal.
- c) Analysis of the important reactor components as the core and the vessel and classification of reactors as the Light Water, Graphite, Gas Cooled Thermal, Heavy Water, Liquid Metal & Molten Salt reactors.
- d) Global emplacement of reactors as per their classification.
- e) The case for small reactors wherein the IAEA has studied a possible high case of at least 93 new placements by 2030 or at least 43 in a low case without any being in the USA.
- f) An observation on the Indian and Chinese effort to develop more reactors in the range of 220 MWe & upwards.
- g) Tabulation of the global medium and small reactor emplacements.
- h) Need for cost competitiveness of small reactors on per watt cost basis and operational approach needed to achieve such advantages.
- i) Benefits associated with small reactors.
- j) Tabulation of characteristics of small nuclear power reactors & explanation on the various types by coolant used as LWR’s, SMART, Gas cooled, MHTGR, Liquid Metal, Molten Salt.
- k) Challenges for small reactor technology to overcome
- l) Market oriented early mover approach modifications needed on part of developed nations as the US to garner chunks in the $ 6 trillion global energy market.
- m) Overview on issues facing small reactor tech as Safety, Cost, technology, funding etc.
- n) Special section on Small LWR including its global commerce and some products offered by respective countries as the AP1000, Babcock and Wilcox MPower, NuScale MASLWR, VVER-1000, VVER-1200, AREVA EPR etc.
- o) The design, fuel process used in LWR’s along with the various types as LWR’s as the ABV, CAREM, IRIS, KLT-40S,mPower,MRX, NHR-200,NP-300,NuScale,RITM200, SMART,TRIGA, VBER-150, VBER-300,VK-300, VKT-12 etc.
- p) Analysis of 9 types of HTGR
- q) LMCFN reactors with the role of Mercury, Na & NaK, and Lead as coolants & 12 types of such reactors explained.
- r) Comprehensive section on Molten Salt reactors, its issues, advantages and explanation on salt selection decisions as also comparison to LWR’s.
- s) Comprehensive Corporate, Business, Financial, SWOT analysis for 7 major players & profiles for 11 other player in this industry.
A. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
B. ANALYSIS OF NUCLEAR REACTOR TECHNOLOGY
B.1 Introduction
B.2 History of Nuclear Reactors
B.3 How Nuclear Power Reactors Work
B.3.1 Fission Reaction
B.3.2 Heat Generation by the Reactor Core
B.3.3 Role of the Nuclear Reactor Coolant
B.3.4 Controlling the Power Output of the Reactor
B.3.5 Generation of Electricity
C. ANALYSIS OF THE REACTOR VESSEL
D. ANALYSIS OF THE NUCLEAR REACTOR CORE
E. OVERVIEW OF SMALL NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS
E.1 Introduction
E.2 Features of Small Nuclear Power Reactors
E.3 Reactor Classification by Coolant
E.4 Applications of Small Nuclear Power Reactors
E.5 Obstacles the Technology has to Overcome
E.6 International Collaboration
F. SUPPORTING THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF SMALL NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS
G. ISSUES WITH SMALL NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS
G.1 Safety Issues
G.2 High Cost of Small Reactors
G.3 Technology Issues
G.4 Funding Problems
H. SMALL LIGHT WATER REACTORS
H.1 Overview
H.2 Usage of LWRs
H.3 Reactor Design
H.4 Fuel in LWRs
H.5 Types of Light Water Reactors
H.5.1 ABV
H.5.2 CAREM
H.5.3 IRIS
H.5.4 KLT-40S
H.5.5 mPower
H.5.6 MRX
H.5.7 NHR-200
H.5.8 NP-300
H.5.9 NuScale
H.5.10 RITM-200
H.5.11 SMART
H.5.12 TRIGA
H.5.13 VBER-150, VBER-300
H.5.14 VK-300
H.5.15 VKT-12
I. HIGH-TEMPERATURE GAS-COOLED REACTORS
I.1 Overview
I.2 Types of High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactors
I.2.1 Adams Atomic Engine
I.2.2 Antares
I.2.3 China’s HTR-10
I.2.4 Energy Multiplier Module (EM2)
I.2.5 Gas Turbine Modular Helium Reactor (GT-MHR)
I.2.6 HTR-PM
I.2.7 Japan’s HTTR, GTHTR
I.2.8 Modular Transportable Small Power Nuclear Reactor (MTSPNR)
I.2.9 Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR)
J. LIQUID METAL-COOLED FAST NEUTRON REACTORS
J.1 Overview
J.2 Reactor Design
J.3 Coolant Used in the Reactor
J.3.1 Mercury
J.3.2 Sodium and NaK
J.3.3 Lead
J.4 Types of Liquid Metal-Cooled Fast Neutron Reactors
J.4.1 4S
J.4.2 ARC-100
J.4.3 BREST
J.4.4 Encapsulated Nuclear Heat-Source (ENHS)
J.4.5 Hyperion Power Module
J.4.6 Korean Fast Reactor Designs
J.4.7 Lead-Bismuth Fast Reactor (SVBR)
J.4.8 LSPR
J.4.9 PRISM
J.4.10 Rapid-L
J.4.11 STAR-LM, STAR-H2, SSTAR
J.4.12 Travelling Wave Reactor (TWR)
K. MOLTEN SALT REACTORS
K.1 Overview
K.2 Issues with Molten Salt Reactors
K.2.1 Design Issues
K.2.2 Fuel Cycle Issues
K.2.3 Political Issues
K.3 Advantages of the Reactor
K.3.1 Technological Advantages
K.3.2 Cost Efficiency & Social Advantages
K.3.3 Reprocessing Advantages
K.3.4 Thorium Fuel Cycle Advantages
K.4 Selecting the Reactor Salt
K.5 Molten Salt Reactors versus Light Water Reactors
K.6 Types of Molten Salt Reactors
K.6.1 Advanced High-Temperature Reactor (AHTR)
K.6.2 Fuji MSR
K.6.3 Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor
L. AQUEOUS HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS
L.1 Overview
L.2 R&D on Aqueous Homogeneous Reactors
L.3 Types of Aqueous Homogeneous Reactors
L.3.1 ARGUS Reactor
L.3.2 Medical Isotope Production System
M. MAJOR INDUSTRY PLAYERS
M.1 Areva SA
M.1.1 Corporate Profile
M.1.2 Business Segment Analysis
M.1.3 Financial Analysis
M.1.4 SWOT Analysis
M.2 Eskom
M.2.1 Corporate Profile
M.2.2 Business Segment Analysis
M.2.3 Financial Analysis
M.2.4 SWOT Analysis
M.3 General Electric
M.3.1 Corporate Profile
M.3.2 Business Segment Analysis
M.3.3 Financial Analysis
M.3.4 SWOT Analysis
M.4 Hitachi Ltd.
M.4.1 Corporate Profile
M.4.2 Business Segment Analysis
M.4.3 Financial Analysis
M.4.4 SWOT Analysis
M.5 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
M.5.1 Corporate Profile
M.5.2 Business Segment Analysis
M.5.3 Financial Analysis
M.5.4 SWOT Analysis
M.6 Toshiba Corporation
M.6.1 Corporate Profile
M.6.2 Business Segment Analysis
M.6.3 Financial Analysis
M.6.4 SWOT Analysis
M.7 Westinghouse Electric Company
M.7.1 Corporate Profile
M.7.2 Business Segment Analysis
M.7.3 Financial Analysis
M.8 Atomenergoproekt
M.9 The Babcock & Wilcox Company
M.10 CNEA
M.11 En+ Group
M.12 General Atomics
M.13 Hyperion Power Generation
M.14 INVAP SE
M.15 KAERI
M.16 Nuclear Power Corporation of India
M.17 NuScale Power
M.18 Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (Pty) Limited
M.19 Rosatom
N. APPENDIX
O. GLOSSARY OF TERMS
B. ANALYSIS OF NUCLEAR REACTOR TECHNOLOGY
B.1 Introduction
B.2 History of Nuclear Reactors
B.3 How Nuclear Power Reactors Work
B.3.1 Fission Reaction
B.3.2 Heat Generation by the Reactor Core
B.3.3 Role of the Nuclear Reactor Coolant
B.3.4 Controlling the Power Output of the Reactor
B.3.5 Generation of Electricity
C. ANALYSIS OF THE REACTOR VESSEL
D. ANALYSIS OF THE NUCLEAR REACTOR CORE
E. OVERVIEW OF SMALL NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS
E.1 Introduction
E.2 Features of Small Nuclear Power Reactors
E.3 Reactor Classification by Coolant
E.4 Applications of Small Nuclear Power Reactors
E.5 Obstacles the Technology has to Overcome
E.6 International Collaboration
F. SUPPORTING THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF SMALL NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS
G. ISSUES WITH SMALL NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS
G.1 Safety Issues
G.2 High Cost of Small Reactors
G.3 Technology Issues
G.4 Funding Problems
H. SMALL LIGHT WATER REACTORS
H.1 Overview
H.2 Usage of LWRs
H.3 Reactor Design
H.4 Fuel in LWRs
H.5 Types of Light Water Reactors
H.5.1 ABV
H.5.2 CAREM
H.5.3 IRIS
H.5.4 KLT-40S
H.5.5 mPower
H.5.6 MRX
H.5.7 NHR-200
H.5.8 NP-300
H.5.9 NuScale
H.5.10 RITM-200
H.5.11 SMART
H.5.12 TRIGA
H.5.13 VBER-150, VBER-300
H.5.14 VK-300
H.5.15 VKT-12
I. HIGH-TEMPERATURE GAS-COOLED REACTORS
I.1 Overview
I.2 Types of High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactors
I.2.1 Adams Atomic Engine
I.2.2 Antares
I.2.3 China’s HTR-10
I.2.4 Energy Multiplier Module (EM2)
I.2.5 Gas Turbine Modular Helium Reactor (GT-MHR)
I.2.6 HTR-PM
I.2.7 Japan’s HTTR, GTHTR
I.2.8 Modular Transportable Small Power Nuclear Reactor (MTSPNR)
I.2.9 Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR)
J. LIQUID METAL-COOLED FAST NEUTRON REACTORS
J.1 Overview
J.2 Reactor Design
J.3 Coolant Used in the Reactor
J.3.1 Mercury
J.3.2 Sodium and NaK
J.3.3 Lead
J.4 Types of Liquid Metal-Cooled Fast Neutron Reactors
J.4.1 4S
J.4.2 ARC-100
J.4.3 BREST
J.4.4 Encapsulated Nuclear Heat-Source (ENHS)
J.4.5 Hyperion Power Module
J.4.6 Korean Fast Reactor Designs
J.4.7 Lead-Bismuth Fast Reactor (SVBR)
J.4.8 LSPR
J.4.9 PRISM
J.4.10 Rapid-L
J.4.11 STAR-LM, STAR-H2, SSTAR
J.4.12 Travelling Wave Reactor (TWR)
K. MOLTEN SALT REACTORS
K.1 Overview
K.2 Issues with Molten Salt Reactors
K.2.1 Design Issues
K.2.2 Fuel Cycle Issues
K.2.3 Political Issues
K.3 Advantages of the Reactor
K.3.1 Technological Advantages
K.3.2 Cost Efficiency & Social Advantages
K.3.3 Reprocessing Advantages
K.3.4 Thorium Fuel Cycle Advantages
K.4 Selecting the Reactor Salt
K.5 Molten Salt Reactors versus Light Water Reactors
K.6 Types of Molten Salt Reactors
K.6.1 Advanced High-Temperature Reactor (AHTR)
K.6.2 Fuji MSR
K.6.3 Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor
L. AQUEOUS HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS
L.1 Overview
L.2 R&D on Aqueous Homogeneous Reactors
L.3 Types of Aqueous Homogeneous Reactors
L.3.1 ARGUS Reactor
L.3.2 Medical Isotope Production System
M. MAJOR INDUSTRY PLAYERS
M.1 Areva SA
M.1.1 Corporate Profile
M.1.2 Business Segment Analysis
M.1.3 Financial Analysis
M.1.4 SWOT Analysis
M.2 Eskom
M.2.1 Corporate Profile
M.2.2 Business Segment Analysis
M.2.3 Financial Analysis
M.2.4 SWOT Analysis
M.3 General Electric
M.3.1 Corporate Profile
M.3.2 Business Segment Analysis
M.3.3 Financial Analysis
M.3.4 SWOT Analysis
M.4 Hitachi Ltd.
M.4.1 Corporate Profile
M.4.2 Business Segment Analysis
M.4.3 Financial Analysis
M.4.4 SWOT Analysis
M.5 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
M.5.1 Corporate Profile
M.5.2 Business Segment Analysis
M.5.3 Financial Analysis
M.5.4 SWOT Analysis
M.6 Toshiba Corporation
M.6.1 Corporate Profile
M.6.2 Business Segment Analysis
M.6.3 Financial Analysis
M.6.4 SWOT Analysis
M.7 Westinghouse Electric Company
M.7.1 Corporate Profile
M.7.2 Business Segment Analysis
M.7.3 Financial Analysis
M.8 Atomenergoproekt
M.9 The Babcock & Wilcox Company
M.10 CNEA
M.11 En+ Group
M.12 General Atomics
M.13 Hyperion Power Generation
M.14 INVAP SE
M.15 KAERI
M.16 Nuclear Power Corporation of India
M.17 NuScale Power
M.18 Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (Pty) Limited
M.19 Rosatom
N. APPENDIX
O. GLOSSARY OF TERMS
