Coupling of high temperature nuclear reactor with chemical plant by means of steam loop with heat pump

AGH-University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, Kraków, Poland

^* Corresponding author: Mariusz.Kopec@agh.edu.pl

Abstract

High temperature nuclear reactors (HTR) can be used as an excellent, emission-free source of technological heat for various industrial applications. Their outlet helium temperature (700°-900°C) allows not only for heat supply to all processes below 600°C (referred to as “steam class”), but also enables development of clean nuclear-assisted hydrogen production or coal liquefaction technologies with required temperatures up to 900°C (referred to as “chemical class”). This paper presents the results of analyses done for various configurations of the steam transport loop coupled with the high-temperature heat pump designed for “chemical class” applications. The advantages and disadvantages as well as the key issues are discussed in comparison with alternative solutions, trying to answer the question whether the system with the steam loop and the hightemperature heat pump is viable and economically justified.