| Summary: | This research project will investigate the potential business case and technical
feasibility of using nuclear generated heat in a crude oil refinery located some
distance away. The key design element is an energy transportation mechanism
that doesn’t compromise the safety, licensing or operability of the nuclear plant.
In a crude oil refinery processing heat is generated by combusting fuels that are
generally sellable products. The inherent safety features and high output
temperature of a HTGR make it an appropriate replacement heat source for
such a processing plant. An opportunity thus exists to replace the refinery
hydrocarbon fuel usage with nuclear energy thereby improving refinery
profitability.
Three alternate proposed were generated. Alt 1: Generation of steam at HTGR,
piped to the refinery to replace current supply. Alt 2: Closed loop reversible
methanation reaction delivering potential chemical energy to the refinery which
is released to the process in heat exchangers. Alt 3: Hydrogen production from
water splitting at the HTGR, piped to the refinery and combusted in boilers or
used for hydrotreating diesel. Utilizing data from refinery plant historian and
journals, a basic engineering study assessed technical feasibility thereof. An
economic model for the 2 most promising alternates was set up using
quotations and factored data and evaluated against the existing refinery
situation. A consistently increasing crude price was assumed.
Alternates 1, 2 and 3 proved technically feasible and delivered 86 MW, 59 MW
and 48MW to the refinery respectively. Generating steam at the HTGR (Alt 1)
demonstrated an attractive business case, strengthened by co-locating the
nuclear plant at the refinery. It is therefore concluded that using a HTGR for
process heat in a petrochemical plant such as a refinery is techno-economically
practical and demands further consideration. If future carbon emission
legislation is promulgated this proposal will be key component of the solution. === MIng (Nuclear Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014
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