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An Experimental Study of an Autonomous Heat Removal System Based on an Organic Rankine Cycle for an Advanced Nuclear Power Plant

Author

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  • Nicolas Tauveron

    (Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LITEN, LCST, F-38054 Grenoble, France)

  • Guillaume Lhermet

    (Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LITEN, LCST, F-38054 Grenoble, France
    CEA, DES, DER, SESI, F-13108 Saint Paul Lez Durance, France)

  • Benoît Payebien

    (Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LITEN, LCST, F-38054 Grenoble, France)

  • Nadia Caney

    (Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LITEN, LCST, F-38054 Grenoble, France)

  • Franck Morin

    (CEA, DES, DER, SESI, F-13108 Saint Paul Lez Durance, France)

Abstract

The present study focuses on the recovery of waste heat in an autonomous safety system designed for advanced nuclear reactors. The system primarily relies on passive safety condensers, which are increasingly integrated into the design of advanced Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs). These condensers are typically immersed in large water tanks that serve as heat sinks and are placed at sufficient heights to ensure natural circulation. Such a heat removal system can operate for an extended period, depending on the size of the tank. This research is driven by the potential to recover part of the energy stored in the boiling water volume, using it as a heat source for an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system via an immersed heat exchanger. The electricity generated by the ORC engine can be used to power the system components, thereby making it self-sufficient. In particular, a pump replenishes the water tank, ensuring core cooling for a duration no longer limited by the water volume in the tank. An experimental test setup, including a boiling water pool and an ORC engine with an electrical output of approximately several hundred watts, along with an immersed evaporator, was constructed at CEA (Grenoble, France). Several test campaigns were conducted on the experimental test bench, exploring different configurations: two distinct ORC working fluids, cold source temperature variation effects, and relative positioning of the submerged evaporator and heat source within the water tank impact. These tests demonstrated the reliability of the system. The results were also used to validate both the ORC condenser and evaporator models. This article presents this innovative system, which has recently been patented. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, the investigated configuration of an ORC that includes an immersed evaporator is original.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolas Tauveron & Guillaume Lhermet & Benoît Payebien & Nadia Caney & Franck Morin, 2024. "An Experimental Study of an Autonomous Heat Removal System Based on an Organic Rankine Cycle for an Advanced Nuclear Power Plant," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-20, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:20:p:5069-:d:1496928
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Scaccabarozzi, Roberto & Tavano, Michele & Invernizzi, Costante Mario & Martelli, Emanuele, 2018. "Comparison of working fluids and cycle optimization for heat recovery ORCs from large internal combustion engines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 396-416.
    2. Muhyiddine Jradi & Jinxing Li & Hao Liu & Saffa Riffat, 2014. "Micro-scale ORC-based combined heat and power system using a novel scroll expander," International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies, Oxford University Press, vol. 9(2), pages 91-99.
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    1. Kaczmarczyk, Tomasz Z. & Żywica, Grzegorz & Witanowski, Łukasz & Klonowicz, Piotr & Lampart, Piotr & Ihnatowicz, Eugeniusz, 2025. "Selection and analysis of the main components of a 10 kW CHP ORC system powered by waste heat from the food drying process," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).

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