The nuclear industry lacks a well documented, systematic procedure defining the
requirements for power plant cycle selection and optimisation. A generic technoeconomic
optimisation methodology is therefore proposed that can serve in the
selection of balance-of-plant configurations and design conditions for High
Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) power plants.
The example of a cogeneration steam plant coupled to a pebble bed reactor, with or
without an intermediate buffer circuit, was used in search of a suitable methodology.
The following analyses were performed:
• First order thermal hydraulic analysis
• Second order thermal hydraulic analysis including cost estimation
• Third order steady state analysis to evaluate part-load operation
• Third order transient analysis to test operability and controllability
The assumptions, level of detail required, modelling methodology and the type of
decisions that can be made after each stage are discussed. The cycles under
consideration are evaluated and compared based on cycle efficiency, capital cost,
unit energy cost and operability.
The outcome of this study shows that it is worthwhile spending the effort of
developing a second order costing model and a third order model capable of
analysing off-design conditions. First order modelling could be omitted from the
methodology.
The advantage of a second order model is that the cycle configuration can be
optimised from a unit energy cost perspective, which incorporates the effects of both
capital cost and cycle efficiency. The optimum cycle configuration differs from that
predicted by first order modelling, which illustrates that first order modelling alone is
insufficient. Third order part-load operation analysis showed operability issues that
were not apparent after first or second order modelling. However, transient analysis
does not appear justified in the very early design stages.
To conclude, the proposed methodology is summarised as follows:
• Evaluate the user requirements and design constraints.
• Apply design principles from the Second Law of thermodynamics in selecting
cycle configurations and base case operating conditions.
• Optimise the operating conditions by performing second order thermal hydraulic
modelling which includes component design and cost estimation.
• Evaluate part-load operation with third order analysis.
• Select the cycle with the lowest Levelised Unit Energy Cost (LUEC) and simplest
operating strategy. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Mechanical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NWUBOLOKA1/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/4233 |
| Date | January 2010 |
| Creators | Van Eck, Wilma Hendrina |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | North-West University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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