Abstract
For the modular HTR in the future, different developments are possible, to improve the energy conversion, the safety, the economical conditions of the fuel supply, and the waste management. One important topic is the realization of higher thermal power obeying the concept of limitation of the maximal fuel temperature during accidents to values of below 1600 °C. A well-suited possibility is the application of annular core. For reactor pressure vessels consisting of forged steel values of around 400 MWth will be possible, prestressed vessels allow much higher thermal power till around 1500 MWth, using an annular core too. Very high helium temperatures, which can be important for future processes of electricity generation or for process heat applications, can be produced by the special fuel cycle OTTO, in which spherical fuel elements run just one time through the core. The temperature differences between fuel and helium then become very small at the core exit. Furthermore, improvements of the fuel elements can be realized: better coatings and corrosion protection reduce fission product release and possible damage by corrosion. For the safety of the plant and for special sites, prestressed reactor pressure vessels can be advantageous, because they can be transported in pieces and are evaluated as burst safe. Oriented on rising safety requirements of the future, innovative containments, and the possibility to arrange this component underground become important. Some measures are improved filter concepts and storage volumes for off-gas. Thorium can be used as fertile material and will broaden the fuel basis in the future. Breeding will be possible in HTR plants too, if the burnup is reduced and reprocessing will be developed. Even partitioning and transmutation can be applied to spent HTR fuel too in a far future. Intermediate storage systems, however, will be the most advantageous solution for the next decade, because these systems can be designed with extreme safety standards. Even extreme earthquake loads can be tolerated. Further improvements are possible like underground siting or enhanced physical protection against very large airplanes or weapons. Final storage offers some further improvements using additional ceramic layers for the spent fuel elements or special canisters. Much work has been done already for the development of components and materials for intermediate cycle. These solutions can help to realize different cycles for the generation of electricity or for cogeneration in the future.
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Kugeler, K., Zhang, Z. (2019). Future Aspects of HTR Development. In: Modular High-temperature Gas-cooled Reactor Power Plant. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-57712-7_15
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