A review on the development of nuclear power reactors

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorHo, Men_AU
dc.contributor.authorObbard, EGen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBurr, PAen_AU
dc.contributor.authorYeoh, GHen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2021-06-10T05:41:33Zen_AU
dc.date.available2021-06-10T05:41:33Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2019-02en_AU
dc.date.statistics2021-05-05en_AU
dc.description.abstractNuclear power can solve the energy trilemma of supplying baseload, clean and affordable power. However, a review of nuclear power plant (NPP) builds show mixed results, with delays in Finland and in the US offset by successes in China, South Korea and the UAE. In the West, financing for new builds has been difficult in the face of a deregulated energy market, billion-dollar upfront investments, long build times and in the case of the US historically low gas prices. We explore how the nuclear industry is innovating in facing these challenges through a review of nuclear power developments in the past, present and future. Early developments in nuclear power in the 1950s resulted in a variety of designs, out of which the pressurised water reactor (PWR) became dominant for its compactness and overall economy. Over the next 10 years, several PWR-based small modular reactor (SMR) designs are expected to come online within an eight-year timeframe. Their modular construction and fabrication in a controlled factory setting aims to shorten build times from 8 to 3 years. However, the lack of established regulatory approval pathways may be a time-limiting challenge that needs to be overcome by the first fleet of SMRs. The passive safety and a smaller fuel loading of SMRs will allow them to be deployed at more potential sites, including brownfield replacements of old coal-fired power plants or power unconventional, remote or islanded grids. Some SMRs are also designed to load follow which will allow them to work harmoniously with intermittent renewables sources with the promise of an affordable, truly carbon-neutral grid. In the longer term, advanced nuclear reactors in the form of sodium cooled, molten salt cooled, and high temperature gas cooled reactors hold the promise of providing efficient electricity production, industrial heat for heavy industry as well as the generation of hydrogen for synthetic fuel. © 2019 The Author(s). Creative Commons Published by Elsevier Ltd.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationHo, M., Obbard, E., Burr, P. A., & Yeoh, G. (2019). A review on the development of nuclear power reactors. Paper presented to 2nd International Conference on Energy and Power, ICEP2018, 13–15 December 2018, Sydney, Australia. In Energy Procedia, 160, 459-466. doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2019.02.193en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate15 December 2018en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencename2nd International Conference on Energy and Power, ICEP2018en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceSydney, Australiaen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate13 December 2018en_AU
dc.identifier.issn1876-6102en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleEnergy Procediaen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination459-466en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2019.02.193en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/10856en_AU
dc.identifier.volume160en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherElsevieren_AU
dc.subjectNuclear poweren_AU
dc.subjectPower generationen_AU
dc.subjectCapacityen_AU
dc.subjectThermal pollutionen_AU
dc.subjectWaste heaten_AU
dc.subjectUraniumen_AU
dc.subjectSmall modular reactorsen_AU
dc.subjectEnergyen_AU
dc.subjectMarketen_AU
dc.titleA review on the development of nuclear power reactorsen_AU
dc.typeConference Paperen_AU
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
1-s2.0-S1876610219312834-main.pdf
Size:
686.91 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.63 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Conference Publications