Solar power generation nuclear power plant isolation zone

What is a nuclear power plant design paradigm?

A new nuclear power plant design paradigm is described herein with the nuclear island separated from the nonnuclear power block or industrial heat customer by large-scale heat storage. The reactor delivers heat to storage. Heat from storage goes (1) to the power block to produce electricity or (2) to meet industrial or commercial heat demand.

Could a low cost heat storage system create a nuclear power plant?

The potential for very low cost heat storage coupled with the low cost of converting electricity to heat also implies incentives to dump low-price electricity into the same heat storage systems creating nuclear power plants that buy and sell electricity.

Should a nuclear plant be separate from a power block?

Second, nuclear plant safety and security requirements have changed in the last 50 years, suggesting that a lower-cost plant layout may be to separate the nuclear island from the power block with large-scale heat storage.

Can a 100 GW heat storage system match a 1000 MW nuclear plant?

To match the yearly energy output of a 1000-MW (electric) nuclear plant with a 100-GW.h heat storage system, the total CSP land area would be near 130 km 2 (50 square miles) for the total output. There is considerable experience in pumping hot oil over distances of kilometers.

Are there grid requirements on a nuclear reactor?

There are no grid requirements on the reactor. The reactor produces heat on its own schedule. Transients are minimized. summarizes the characteristics of this system. The reactor is sized to meet average energy demands. The power block is sized to meet peak electricity demands with assured generating capacity.

Should concentrating solar power plant be integrated?

In the integrated energy system, the concentrating solar power plant—specifically, its built-in thermal storage—would provide that enhanced flexibility.