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To achieve a 30% reduction in your energy bill by producing cold through residual heat recovery in a nuclear power plant, it's essential to design a system that safely extracts waste heat without compromising reactor performance. Here's how this can be accomplished:
1. Identifying Residual Heat Collection Points
In a nuclear power plant, residual heat is primarily generated after reactor shutdown due to radioactive decay of fission products. Key components where this heat can be collected include:
Reactor Coolant System (RCS): Even after shutdown, the RCS retains significant thermal energy.
Reactor Coolant Pumps: These pumps are powerful and can consume up to 6 MWe each, with about two-thirds of their power input appearing as heat in the reactor coolant.
Component Cooling Water System (CCS): This intermediate cooling loop provides a barrier to the release of radioactive liquid to the environment and can be utilized for heat exchange.
Shutdown Cooling Systems: These systems are designed to remove decay heat from the reactor core and can be adapted for heat extraction.
To safely extract heat without interfering with reactor operations:
Use of Heat Exchangers: Install heat exchangers between the RCS and secondary systems to transfer heat without direct contact, maintaining safety and efficiency.
Implement Passive Safety Systems: Design systems that rely on natural processes like gravity and natural circulation to remove heat, reducing dependency on active components and enhancing safety.
Monitor and Control Flow Rates: Ensure that the extraction of heat does not alter the flow rates in the RCS, preventing any impact on reactor cooling and turbine performance.
Incorporate Redundant Systems: Design systems with redundancy to handle variations in heat generation and ensure continuous safe operation.
3. Producing Cold Efficiently
To convert the extracted heat into cold:
Absorption Refrigeration Systems: Utilize absorption chillers that can operate efficiently with low-grade heat sources, such as the heat extracted from the reactor coolant.
Supercritical CO₂ Systems: Implement systems like sCO₂-HeRo, which use supercritical carbon dioxide as a working fluid, offering efficient heat removal without reliance on external power sources.
Thermoelectric Generators: Explore the use of thermoelectric materials that can convert temperature differences directly into electrical power, which can then be used for cooling purposes.
By strategically implementing these systems, a nuclear power plant can safely extract residual heat and convert it into cold, leading to significant energy savings and enhanced efficiency.