Coupling Chemical Heat Pump with Nuclear Reactor for Temperature Amplification by Delivering Process Heat and Electricity: A Techno-Economic Analysis

Aman Gupta, Piyush Sabharwall, Paul D. Armatis, Brian M. Fronk and Vivek Utgikar
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Aman Gupta: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
Piyush Sabharwall: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA
Paul D. Armatis: School of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
Brian M. Fronk: School of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
Vivek Utgikar: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 16, 1-25

Abstract: The energy economy is continually evolving in response to socio-political factors in the nature of primary energy sources, their conversions to useful forms, such as electricity and heat, and their utilization in different sectors. Nuclear energy has a crucial role to play in the evolution of energy economy due to its clean and non-carbon-emitting characteristics. A techno-economic analysis was undertaken to establish the viability of selling heat along with electricity for an advanced 100 MW th small modular reactor (SMR) and four nuclear hybrid energy system (NHES) configurations featuring the SMR paired with chemical heat pump (ChHP) systems providing a thermal output ranging from 1 to 50 MW th . Net present value, payback period, discounted cash flow rate of return, and levelized cost of energy were evaluated for these systems for different regions of U.S. reflecting a range of electricity and thermal energy costs. The analysis indicated that selling heat to high temperature industrial processes showed profitable outcomes compared to the sale of only electricity. Higher carbon taxes improved the economic parameters of the NHES alternatives significantly. Providing heat to high temperature industries could be very beneficial, helping to cut down the greenhouse gases emission by reducing the fossil fuel consumption.

Keywords: chemical heat pump; techno-economic; nuclear energy; temperature boost; industrial thermal processes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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