A very high-temperature reactor self-sustainable oasis concept. (21st February 2007)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shatilla, Youssef A.
• Is Part Of: International journal of nuclear desalination. Volume 2:Number 2(2006)
• Page Start: 193
• Page End: 204
• Publication Date: 2007-02-21
• Subjects: gas turbine modular helium reactors -- GT-HMR -- generation IV -- high temperature electrolysis of steam -- HTES -- HYSYS -- Idaho National Laboratory -- INL -- multi-stage flash -- MSF -- nuclear desalination -- pebble bed modular reactors -- PBMR -- seawater reverse osmosis -- RO -- very high temperature reactors -- VHTR -- electricity generation -- fresh water production -- hydrogen production -- self-sustainable oasis; Nuclear saline water conversion plants -- Periodicals; 628.16723
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1476-914X

Abstract

A VHTR-SSO for electricity, fresh water, and hydrogen production has been conceptually designed. The SSO uses a 600 MWth VHTR to drive the power cycle and generate net electricity, of 176 MWe. In the current configuration, about 100 MWe is sent to the power grid and the rest is used in a hybrid MSF-RO desalination plant to produce fresh water at a rate of 182 400 m³/d. Waste heat from the VHTR power cycle is used to pre-heat inlet seawater streams for the hybrid MSF-RO plant to increase the water-to-power ratio and consequently increase the water production efficiency. Hydrogen is produced at a rate of 1.185 kg/s via HTES that consumes electricity and heat from the VHTR. Hydrogen is produced at an efficiency of ∼50% and is sufficient to fuel approximately 280 000 light vehicles. The VHTR-SSO can be barge-mounted to facilitate its usage in remote costal regions.