Real-Time Simulation of a Small Modular Reactor in-the-Loop within Nuclear-Renewable Hybrid Energy Systems

Hossam A. Gabbar () and Otavio Lopes Alves Esteves
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Hossam A. Gabbar: Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St. North, Oshawa, ON L1G0C5, Canada
Otavio Lopes Alves Esteves: Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science, Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe St. North, Oshawa, ON L1G0C5, Canada

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 18, 1-22

Abstract: Advanced small modular reactors (SMRs) have recently been developed in many designs; therefore, nuclear energy stands out as a promising alternative to sustainability and reliability in replacing fossil fuel energies in microgrids. SMRs have been shown as the best option due to the fact of their lower initial capital, greater scalability, and siting flexibility compared to large nuclear plants. Nowadays, there are several simulators able to reproduce all the safety and control mechanics of different nuclear reactors; however, there exists a lack of emulators able to put these functionalities into a real scenario to ensure the feasibility of the use of nuclear energy within energy systems, especially in nonconventional systems. This paper aims to mimic the central control system of SMRs by modeling the nuclear processes aiming to contribute to real-time simulations using SMRs integrated with renewable energy in microgrids that could be applied for different scenarios, such as cogeneration systems or fast-charging stations for electric vehicles, by considering the impact on dispatch and reliability. The simulation process of the proposed model was validated experimentally using the hardware-in-the-loop technique, which consisted of the modeling being integrated into the hardware and tested using real-time simulators. The proposed system, also denominated as SMR-in-the-Loop, was designed and adapted to be easily integrated with existing microgrid systems to represent the behavior of an SMR in nuclear-renewable hybrid energy systems, avoiding high investments and complexity in testing and implementing actual nuclear reactors.

Keywords: small modular reactor; hardware-in-the-loop; nuclear-renewable hybrid energy systems; modeling and simulation (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
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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