A study on steam cycle optimization for integrating energy storage system to nuclear power plant. (15th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Ju Yeon; Lee, Jeong Ik
• Is Part Of: Annals of nuclear energy. Volume 160(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09-15
• Subjects: Energy storage system integrated nuclear power plants -- Load-following operation -- Steam cycle; Nuclear energy -- Periodicals; Nuclear engineering -- Periodicals; 621.4805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2021.108349
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4549

Abstract

Highlights: An Energy Storage System (ESS) integrated Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is proposed as a flexible source. The steam cycle of the ESS integrated NPP is optimized with two different merging points. An off-design analysis for turbines and heat exchangers on the steam cycle is performed. The power output and delivered to the ESS are estimated. Abstract: As the share of renewable energy will be increasing, there is a growing interest in flexible power sources and energy storage systems due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy. We propose the Energy Storage System (ESS) integrated Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) as a solution. The system operates on load-following by branching the mass flow from the steam cycle to the ESS without changing the reactor thermal output. However, the merging point can be different for heat storing ESS and work storing ESS because the outlet conditions of the ESS vary depending on the type of ESS. In this study, the merging points are categorized into two types, feedwater heater and condenser. At each merging point, cycle optimization is performed while increasing the branch flow into ESS. The optimization goal is to maintain the feedwater temperature at the inlet of a steam generator. The power output and energy delivered to the ESS according to the merging point are estimated. From this study, it was found that when 25% of the inlet mass flow rate to the low-pressure turbine is diverted to ESS, the overall output of the steam cycle is decreased by 44.17% for the heat conversion ESS and 49.95% for the work conversion ESS.