Nuclear power return may hinge on advanced gas-cooled reactor designs

• Published in: Power Engineering Vol. 107; no. 3; pp. 45 - 48
• Main Author: GAUTSCHI, Fritz
• Format: Magazine Article Trade Publication Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tulsa, OK PennWell 01.03.2003; Clarion Events, Ltd
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cooling; Costs; Design; Design engineering; Efficiency; Electricity; Emissions; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fission nuclear power plants; Gas turbines; Gases; Graphite; High temperature; Hydrologic cycle; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; Nuclear power plants; Nuclear reactors; Radioactive wastes; Schedules; Technological change; Turbines; United States > US; Engineering design; High temperature reactor; Perspective; Pebble bed reactor; Gas turbine; Helium; Gas cooled reactor; Nuclear reactor
• ISSN: 0032-5961

In today's power market, where developers give greater weight to first cost and equipment reliability than to life cycle costs, new nuclear power plants based on the expensive light-water reactor design are not financially attractive. However, the sudden volatility in fossil fuel prices, especially gas, compounded by the possibility of CO2 emission restrictions and the lack of other economically viable alternatives, have started to generate new interest in the nuclear option, especially if first costs can be lowered. Reconsidering the light-water nuclear plant design and implementing newer technologies, such as the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor, represent the most promising opportunities to reduce first costs. This analysis indicates that the nuclear option is viable. The fundamental conditions outlined by the nuclear industry can be met by applying existing technology. The technology of the individual major components is available and proven.