Abstract

Electricity markets are changing because of (1) the addition of wind and solar generating capacity and (2) the goal of a low-carbon electricity grid. The large-scale addition of wind and solar photovoltaics results in low wholesale electricity prices at times of high wind and solar output and high prices at times of low wind and solar input. Today, gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) plants burning natural gas or oil provide dispatchable electricity and provide the most economic method to match electricity production with demand. Nuclear Air-Brayton Combined Cycles (NACCs) with heat storage and a thermodynamic topping cycle enable base-load nuclear plants with sodium or salt coolants to provide dispatchable electricity to the grid and heat to industry. This capability maximizes nuclear plant revenue and enables a base-load nuclear reactor with NACCs to be a low-carbon replacement for a GTCC. The NACC power cycle, alternative heat storage technologies, and development status of the different technologies are described. The technology applies to other heat generating technologies including high-temperature concentrated solar power and future fusion systems.

摘要

电力市场的变化是由于（1）增加风能和太阳能发电能力，以及（2）建立低碳电网的目标。风能和太阳能光伏发电的大规模增加导致高风能和太阳能输出时的批发电价低，而低风能和太阳能输入时导致高电价。如今，燃烧天然气或石油的燃气轮机联合循环（GTCC）厂提供可调度的电力，并提供最经济的方法来满足电力生产和需求。具有储热功能和热力学顶循环的核气-布雷顿联合循环（NACC）使带有钠或盐冷却剂的基本负荷核电站能够向电网提供可调度的电力，并为工业提供热能。此功能可最大化核电厂的收入，并使具有NACC的基本负荷核反应堆成为GTCC的低碳替代品。描述了NACC的电源循环，替代的储热技术以及不同技术的发展状况。该技术适用于其他发热技术，包括高温聚光太阳能和未来的聚变系统。