The NEREUS Installation — The Nuclear Part (HTR)

Abstract

The paper highlights on-going studies and design efforts by a team of several specialists in aspects related to a type of power generation installation, which consists of a directly coupled closed-cycle gas turbines (the Light Water Reactors have a double loupe energy transfer system coupled by a heat exchanger) to an inherently safe nuclear heat source. In particular the NEREUS installation will be discussed. NEREUS is the God for shipping in Greek mythology, but in this case it stands for: a Naturally safe, Efficient, Reactor, Easy to operate, Ultimately simple and Small. This describes very well the aims of the design team. This part will explain the inherently safe character of the nuclear heat source, the way the energy production in the heat source is controlled, the type of nuclear fuel and the treatment of the nuclear waste, the refuelling, the weight, the dimensions and the construction of the nuclear part of the NEREUS installation. Part two will describe the non-nuclear part of the installation, the possible applications, its potential markets and the technical and financial indications from the on-going study. This paper should be read in conjunction with the paper “The NEREUS installation — the Non-Nuclear part (GT)”.