Plant Design and Cost Estimation of a Natural Circulation Lead-Bismuth Reactor with Steam Power Conversion Cycle

Abstract

The analysis of an indirect steam power conversion system with lead-bismuth natural circulation primary system has been performed. The work of this report is focused on 1) identifying the allowable design region for the important design parameters, 2) selecting the set of design parameter values for the steam secondary system which leads to the lowest electricity generation cost and 3) comparing this approach to alternative fast systems. An analysis was performed to examine the capital cost of the ABR and the sensitivity of the capital cost to key design parameters: degree of superheat, secondary system pressure and reactor chimney height. These capital cost estimation and sensitivity analyses were based on the cost estimate of the ALMR report. The following optimal design parameter values for the steam secondary system were established by parameter studies presented in this report. - Pb-Bi in-tube design for the steam generator - Triangular tube lattice in the steam generator - Superheat in steam generator (30°C superheat) - Secondary pressure (70 bar) in the steam generator - No recirculation in the steam generator - Steam generator coolant inlet temperature. The ABR capital cost shows around 15% reduction compared to the ALMR. This is mainly due to the lower cost of the coolant systems due to elimination of the intermediate heat transport system and main coolant pump. Whether, the same ration of reduced cost can be expected in comparison to S-PRISM which is not known but is likely given that the same simplification apply. The ABR capital cost sensitivity analysis shows that the capital cost does not change with degree of superheat, increases with secondary system pressure and decreases with increased reactor chimney height. This report is restricted to the capital cost of the ABR. A previous report has estimated ABR fuel cycle cost. Future economic analysis will include the O&M costs and updated capital estimates based on comparison with the SPRISM.