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The Role of Nuclear Power in Meeting Current and Future Industrial Process Heat Demands

Author

Listed:
  • Aiden Peakman

    (National Nuclear Laboratory, Chadwick House, Warrington WA3 6AE, UK)

  • Bruno Merk

    (National Nuclear Laboratory, Chadwick House, Warrington WA3 6AE, UK
    School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GH, UK)

Abstract

There is growing interest in the use of advanced reactor systems for powering industrial processes which could significantly help to reduce CO 2 emissions in the global energy system. However, there has been limited consideration into the role nuclear power would play in meeting current and future industry heat demand, especially with respect to the advantages and disadvantages nuclear power offers relative to other competing low-carbon technologies, such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). In this study, the current market needs for high temperature heat are considered based on UK industry requirements and work carried out in other studies regarding how industrial demand could change in the future. How these heat demands could be met via different nuclear reactor systems is also presented. Using this information, it was found that the industrial heat demands for temperature in the range of 500 ∘ C to 1000 ∘ C are relatively low. Whilst High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors (HTGRs), Very High Temperature Reactors (VHTRs), Gas-cooled Fast Reactors (GFRs) and Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) have an advantage in terms of capability to achieve higher temperatures (>500 ∘ C), their relative benefit over Liquid Metal-cooled Fast Reactors (LMFRs) and Light Water Reactors (LWRs) is actually smaller than previous studies indicate. This is because, as is shown here, major parts of the heat demand could be served by almost all reactor types. Alternative (non-nuclear) means to meet industrial heat demands and the indirect application of nuclear power, in particular via producing hydrogen, are also considered. As hydrogen is a relatively poor energy carrier, current trends indicate that the use of low-carbon derived hydrogen is likely to be limited to certain applications and there is a focus in this study on the emerging demands for hydrogen.

Suggested Citation

  • Aiden Peakman & Bruno Merk, 2019. "The Role of Nuclear Power in Meeting Current and Future Industrial Process Heat Demands," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:19:p:3664-:d:270575
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Merk, Bruno & Stanculescu, Alexander & Chellapandi, Perumal & Hill, Robert, 2015. "Progress in reliability of fast reactor operation and new trends to increased inherent safety," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 104-116.
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    Cited by:

    1. Aiden Peakman & Robert Gregg, 2020. "The Fuel Cycle Implications of Nuclear Process Heat," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Umberto Lucia & Giulia Grisolia, 2024. "Energy Amplifier Systems as Sustainable Nuclear Reactors: An Overview," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-14, March.
    3. Pablo Fernández-Arias & Diego Vergara & Álvaro Antón-Sancho, 2023. "Bibliometric Review and Technical Summary of PWR Small Modular Reactors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-15, July.
    4. David Gattie & Michael Hewitt, 2023. "National Security as a Value-Added Proposition for Advanced Nuclear Reactors: A U.S. Focus," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-26, August.
    5. Haneklaus, Nils & Qvist, Staffan & Gładysz, Paweł & Bartela, Łukasz, 2023. "Why coal-fired power plants should get nuclear-ready," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).

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