generation 3 nuclear reactors · 2010. 9. 13. · cea – delegation for central europe kočovce...

CEA – Delegation for Central Europe 1Kočovce (Slovakia) – September 2010

G. CognetG. Cognet

CEA Delegate for Central EuropeCEA Delegate for Central EuropeNuclear Counsellor Nuclear Counsellor –– French EmbassyFrench Embassy

Generation 3 Nuclear ReactorsGeneration 3 Nuclear Reactors

FrenchFrench-- Slovak summer schoolSlovak summer school

The different generations of nuclear reactorsThe different generations of nuclear reactorsFrom GenerationFrom Generation--1 to Generation1 to Generation--44


UE-25

Suisse

CandidatsUkraine

EUROPE

177 reactors ASIA + RUSSIA

131 reactorsNORTH AMERICA

120 reactors

SOUTH AMERICA

4 reactors Afrique du Sud2 réacteursBrésilArgentine

États-unis

Canada

Mexique

Japon

Russie

Corée

Inde

TaiwanChine

Arménie

Nuclear energy in the world Nuclear energy in the world


Nuclear : a very concentrated energy Nuclear : a very concentrated energy

1 kg of natural uranium yields 100 000 kWh in a thermal fission reactor while 1 kg of coal generates 8 kWh, i.e.12500 times less

The first nuclear reactor was a natural one (Oklo, 2 billion years ago).


The tree of nuclear reactorsThe tree of nuclear reactors

• WPu: Military plutonigenousreactor.• SGHWR: Heavy water reactors supplying industrial heat(Steam Generating Heavy Water Reactor).• AGR: Graphite-gas reactors (Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor).• (V)HTR: (Very) High Temperature Reactor.• SCWR: Super Critical Water Reactor.• ADS: Hybrid spallation-fission system (Accelerator-Driven System).• FR: Fast Reactor.• MSR: (Molten Salt Reactor).


Two main types of water reactor coexist: pressurized water reactors (PWR) and boiling water reactors (BWR)

Types of GenTypes of Gen--2 reactors2 reactors

PWRPWR


Control of the chain reaction

Evacuation at any moment of the residual power (energy produced in the core at the level of a few % after stopping the chain reaction)

Containment of radioactivity, the main part of this relating to the fission products formed in the fuel

Three barriers and 3 safety functions

Safety principle of PWRsSafety principle of PWRs


Competitiveness improvement : 10% less of kWh production costIncrease of the availability factor and of core managementIncrease of life-time from 30 or 40 up to 50 or 60 yearsReactor safety improvement (evolution, for example: H2 recombiners)Reduction of the radiological impactOptimization of spent fuel managementSeismic risks: take into account new rulesAgeing of structures

Containment structureSteam generatorPressurizerCircuits (primary loop)InternalsVessel

GenGen--2 : Optimization & Evolution of the Fleet2 : Optimization & Evolution of the Fleet


Simulation tools for nuclear systems

ECHELLE SYSTEME

ECHELLE 3D-LOCAL

ECHELLESIMULATIONNUMERIQUE

DIRECTE

ECHELLE COMPOSANT

Simulation : Simulation : -- multi-physical, multi-scale modelling- co-developed numerical platforms


Fuel CycleFuel Cycle

CEA – Delegation for Central & Eastern Europe - Budapest March, 2010


Standard vitrifiedwaste container (SVWC)

Glass casting in the laboratory atMarcoule (Gard)

Conditioning of ultimate waste


Two major accidentsTwo major accidents

TMI2 (1979)Tchernobyl (1986)


(1991)(1991)The INES scale of nuclear eventsThe INES scale of nuclear events


Generation II

1950 1970 1990 2010 2030 2050 2070 2090

Generation IIIUNGG

CHOOZ REP 900 REP 1300

N4EPR

COEX

Generation IVPROTOTYPES 2020-25DIAMEX/SANEX, GANEX

DESIGN & R&D

OPERATIONOPTIMIZATION

Generation I DISMANTLING

Generations of Nuclear Power SystemsGenerations of Nuclear Power Systems


EUR: European utilities requirements EUR: European utilities requirements

A utility networkto share experience in plant specification,

design evaluation, licensing …to build common specifications for the European

Gen 3 LWR NPPs

A common bridge with the external stakeholders the vendorsthe EUR utility counterparts outside Europe:

EPRI, Asian utilities,…the regulators: safety, HV grid, …the international organisations: IAEA, OECD, EU,

…

Making Gen 3 a reality in Europe

EUR: a hub to harmonise European utilities views & requirements EUR: a hub to harmonise European utilities views & requirements


The EUR document The EUR document


EUR: a strong base for harmonisation &EUR: a strong base for harmonisation &standardisation of the designs standardisation of the designs

Continuous activity over more than 15 years has made the EUR

organisation one of the central actors in the development Gen 3

LWRs in Europe and worldwide

In its current stage the EUR document is fully operational

Actually used as technical specification to call for bids

Actually used by the NPP vendors willing to be present in Europe,

as a guide for designing their new products

A living document living document that

follows up the progress of technology and

the constraints coming from Europe integration


Main Objectives of GenMain Objectives of Gen--III/III+ ReactorsIII/III+ Reactors

Standardised design for each type to expedite licensing, reduce capital cost and reduce construction timeSimpler and more rugged design, making them easier to operate and less vulnerable to operational upsetsHigher availability and longer operating life – typically 60 yearsReduced possibility of core melt accidentsMinimal effect on the environmentHigher burn-up to reduce fuel use and the amount of wasteBurnable absorbers ("poisons") to extend fuel life

The greatest departure from GenThe greatest departure from Gen--II incorporates passive or inherent safety II incorporates passive or inherent safety features which require no active controls or operational intervefeatures which require no active controls or operational intervention to ntion to avoid accidents in the event of malfunction, and rely on gravityavoid accidents in the event of malfunction, and rely on gravity, natural , natural convection or resistance to high temperaturesconvection or resistance to high temperatures


Containmentdesigned towithstandhydrogendeflagration

Spreading AreaProtection of the Basemat

Prevention of highpressure core melt bydepressurisationmeans

Containment HeatRemoval System

In Containment RefuelingWater Storage Tank (IRWST)

EPR: a matured concept, based on experience feedEPR: a matured concept, based on experience feed--back of current PWRsback of current PWRs


The Path to Greatest Certainty

EPR: the first GenEPR: the first Gen--3 licensed in Europe3 licensed in Europe

Generation III+ PWR4-Loop>4500MWthSG pressure 77bar at 100% power4x100% redundancy of active safeguard systemsBackup in case of total loss of safety function

High power output (1650 MWe)Evolutionary design (Konvoi/N4)Low global power generation costsOutstanding safety levelMaximized benefit from size effect

Construction in Finland, France & ChinaLicensing engaged in USA, UK and India

The Path of Greatest Certainty1650 MWe PWR


EPR Plot PlanEPR Plot Plan

Fuel Building

Reactor BuildingDiesel Generators 3-4Building

Waste Building

NuclearAuxiliaryBuilding

Safeguard Building 1

Diesel Generators 1-2Building

Safeguard Building 4

Safeguard Buildings 2+3

Turbine Building

C.I. ElectricalBuilding


EPR Safety Systems: EPR Safety Systems: BestBest--inin--class APC resistanceclass APC resistance

EPR™ Reactor, Fuel and two Safeguard Buildings are airplane crash resistant for both military and commercial aircraft:

- No licensing delay- Bolstering public and political acceptance

1,8 m thick

BASEMAT

PrestressedConcreteContainmentBuilding

ReinforcedConcrete

Shield Building

Annulus

Steel Liner

1,8 m

InsideOutside


EPR Safety Systems: EPR Safety Systems: Redundant and DiverseRedundant and Diverse

4×100% capacity allows for preventive maintenance at power (n+2 concept)Common cause failures – safety system diversity:

Every system has a diversified back-upExternal hazards through systematic physical separation of the safety systemsClear separation of redundancies with 4 Safeguard buildings ensures robustness against hazards (flooding, fire) and Airplane CrashReactor building, Safeguard buildings and Fuel building on a single raft to cope with seismic and Airplane Crash loads

Proven yet evolutionary safety systems ensure a high reliability level

P19 –S1

Four Train conceptand physical separation

1

23 4


Active System (Long-term)

1. Temporary retention in the reactor pit(gravity and metal gate)

2. Spreading in the large surface dedicatedarea (metal gate melting and gravity)

3. Flooding and cooling of the spreadingarea using IRWST (In-containment Refueling Water Storage Tank)

1. Removal of containment heat:• Recirculation and coolant

heat exchange• Containment spray system

&

Passive System (Short-term)

Reactor pit

IRWST

Spreadingarea

Sacrificialconcrete

Optimum severe accident mitigation prevent releases of hazardous material into the atmosphere and/or the soil

EPR Safety Systems: Protection of the EPR Safety Systems: Protection of the environment with Passive and Active Systemsenvironment with Passive and Active Systems


Gen-3 : An improved back-end of the Fuel Cycle

EPR, an increased flexibility for MOX use in reactors

Plutonium annual balanceKg Pu/year

REP 900 UO2 : + 200

REP 900 MOX : 0

EPR 100% MOX : - 670

Up to 100% MOX Core

MOXUOXControlrods

EPRREP 900

An enhanced capacity to burn Plutonium

Enhanced ability for plutonium multi-recycling


Safe and reliable with more than 10 000 year.reactorsof experience

Safer and safer with Generation-3

Secure energy supply (versus fossil fuels) and reduces geopolitical / economical risks

Competitive

No CO2 or Greenhouse Gases produced

Promising assets for other applications : transports, heat for industry, desalination, …

Nuclear energy: a mature technologyNuclear energy: a mature technology


NEA Source 2006

Annual demand and supply of Uranium (1945 2003)

But, a problem of public acceptanceBut, a problem of public acceptance

2 main issuesRadioactive waste management

Minimised long-lived, high level radiotoxic waste

Safe disposal of remaining waste products

Uranium resources: If nuclear energy grows significantly, uranium resources could be engaged by 2050

Several challenges for an accepted expansion of nuclear energy

Answer exists: Gen-4 systemsFast neutron reactors

Partitioning and transmutation


GenerationGeneration--4 & Closure of fuel cycle4 & Closure of fuel cycle

Extract the maximum energy from the fuel

Valuable materials (96%)Fission Products(3 to 5 %)Minor Actinides(0,1 %)Reprocessing & Recycling

Waste (4%)Plutonium

(1 %)Uranium (94 to 96 %)

Minimize waste radiotoxicity & volumevolume/5

radiotoxicity/10

No plutonium in ultimate wasteVitrification of ultimate waste : very safe conditioning providing long lasting confinement of radioactive waste

Needs R&D and demonstration at industrial level


• Concepts with breakthroughsMinimization of wastesPreservation of resourcesNon Proliferation

Assets for new marketsattractivenesssimplicity, robustness (safety, non

proliferation)

Assets for new applicationshydrogen productiondirect use of heatsea water desalination

New requirements for sustainable nuclear energy

GENGEN--4 paves the way for a sustainable 4 paves the way for a sustainable nuclear energynuclear energy

• Gradual improvements inCompetitivenessSafety and reliability


Charter signed in July 2001 to:Identify potential areas of multilateral

collaborations on Gen-4 nuclear energy systems

Foster collaborative R&D projects

Establish guidelines for collaboration and reporting of their results (review, recommendations, …)

Define Technology Goals for Generation-4

Identify Concepts with Potential

Evaluate Concepts with a Common and Consistently Applied Methodology

Identify R&D Gaps and Needs

Roadmap Issued in December 2002

January, 2003

http://nuclear.gov/geniv/Generation

_IV_Roadmap_1-31-03.pdf

GIF: Key Steps GIF: Key Steps


GIF: 6 Innovative concepts with technological GIF: 6 Innovative concepts with technological breakthroughsbreakthroughs

Very High Temperature Reactor

Sodium Fast reactor

Closed Fuel Cycle

Once Through

Supercritical Water Reactor

Once/Closed

Molten Salt ReactorClosed Fuel Cycle

Closed Fuel CycleLead Fast

Reactor Gas Fast Reactor

Closed Fuel Cycle

Major potential of fast neutron systems with closed fuel cycle for breeding (fissile regeneration) and waste minimization (minor actinides transmutation)


Contributions to the GIFContributions to the GIF

EURATOM = European Implementing Agent

Japenese Chairmanship since end of

2009 (3 year term)


Renaissance

No CO2 emissionsEnergy security of supplyCompetitivenessSafety

Gen-2 Plant life time extensionGen-3 deployment

Sustainability

Waste managementResources preservationNew markets (Hydrogen production, industrial heating …)

Gen-4 systems

Nuclear energy in Europe for the 21st centuryNuclear energy in Europe for the 21st century


Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention

[email protected]

http://www.cea.fr

generation 3 nuclear reactors · 2010. 9. 13. · cea – delegation for central europe kočovce...

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