Keywords
molten salt reactor, nuclear hybrid energy systems, flexible nuclear operation, reverse osmosis, direct contact membrane distillation, Multi-stage Flash Distillation
Abstract
Nuclear hybrid energy systems (NHES) have the potential to provide dependable and emission-free electricity to the grid while also increasing the flexibility and reliability of the electrical grid. Molten salt reactor (MSR) technology can provide consistent, carbon-free electricity while also increasing efficiency, security, and sustainability and reducing nuclear waste. This study investigates the integration of Molten Salt Reactors (MSR) and conventional Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR) with desalination technologies: Direct Contact Membrane Distillation (DCMD), Multi-Stage Flash Distillation (MSFD), and Reverse Osmosis (RO). Dynamic first-principles models were developed and tested using real grid data from the New York Independent System Operator. The results demonstrate that nuclear power is capable of flexibly responding to changing grid demand while simultaneously producing clean water, particularly during periods of low electricity demand. The MSR-RO system was found to be the most efficient in electricity generation and water production, and all hybrid systems reduced CO2 emissions by 356,000 to 682,000 tons annually. Economic analysis reveals that nuclear desalination technologies are cost-competitive with conventional systems, especially when paired with RO. These findings confirm the technical feasibility and environmental benefits of nuclear hybrid systems for sustainable electricity and water production.
Original Publication Citation
An Ho, Blake W. Billings, John D. Hedengren, Kody M. Powell, Flexible operation of nuclear hybrid energy systems for load following and water desalination, Renewable Energy Focus, Volume 51, 2024, 100641, ISSN 1755-0084, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ref.2024.100641.
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Ho, An; Billings, Blake W.; Hedengren, John; and Powell, Kody M., "Flexible Operation of Nuclear Hybrid Energy Systems for Load Following and Water Desalination" (2024). Faculty Publications. 8238.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/8238
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
2024-09-25
Publisher
Renewable Energy Focus
Language
English
College
Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering
Department
Chemical Engineering
Copyright Status
© 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies. This is the preprint version of this article. The definitive version can be found at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ref.2024.100641.
Copyright Use Information
https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/