Combining Nuclear, Renewable, and Fossil Fuel Cycles For

Sustainability

Charles Forsberg

Corporate FellowNuclear Science and Technology Division

Oak Ridge National Laboratoryforsbergcw@ornl.gov; (865) 574-6783

Nuclear Technology and Society: Needs for Next GenerationUniversity of California at Berkeley

Berkeley, CaliforniaMonday, January 7, 2008

*Managed by UT-Battelle, LLC, for the U.S. Department of Energy under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725. The submitted manuscript has been authored by a contractor of the U.S. Government under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725. Accordingly, the U.S. Government retains a nonexclusive, royalty-free license to publish or reproduce the published form of this contribution, or allow others to do so, for U.S. Government purposes. File name: Energy: Berkeley Nuc Renewable Fossil Fuel Cycles

Outline

Global Sustainability GoalsCombined Fuel Cycles

Nuclear-Fossil Liquid FuelsNuclear-Biomass Liquid FuelsNuclear-Renewable Electricity

Nuclear Energy Implications

2

Two Goals are Likely to Determine What is Required for Sustainability

No Crude Oil No Climate Change

06-050

Ara b ia n Sea

G ulf o f O m a n

Pe rsia n

Red

Se a

M e d ite rra ne a n Se a

Bla c k Se a

C a sp ia n

Se a

A ra l Se a

La ke Va n

La ke U rm ia

La ke N a sse r

T'a n a H a yk

G u lf o f Su e z G u lf o f A q a b a

Stra it o f Ho rm u z G ulf

Su e z C a n a l

Sa ud i Ara b ia

Ira n Ira q

Eg yp t

Sud a n

Ethio p ia

So m a lia

D jib o uti

Ye me n

O m a n

O m a n

Un ite d A ra b E m ira te s

Q a ta r

Ba hra in

So c o tra (Ye m e n )

Turkey

Syria A fg h a n is ta n

Pa kis ta n

Ro m a n ia

Bu lg a ria

G re e c e

C yp rus

Le b a no n

Isra e l

J o rd a n

Russia

Eritre a

G e o rg ia

A rm e n ia A ze rb a ija n

K a za kh s ta n

Tu rkm e n ista n

Uzb e kista n

Ukra in e

0 2 0 0

4 0 0 m ile s

4 0 0

2 0 0 0

6 0 0 kilo m e te rs

M id d le E a s t

Ara b ia n Sea

G ulf o f O m a n

Pe rsia n

Red

Se a

M e d ite rra ne a n Se a

Bla c k Se a

C a sp ia n

Se a

A ra l Se a

La ke Va n

La ke U rm ia

La ke N a sse r

T'a n a H a yk

G u lf o f Su e z G u lf o f A q a b a

Stra it o f Ho rm u z G ulf

Su e z C a n a l

Sa ud i Ara b ia

Ira n

Ira q

Eg yp t

Sud a n

Ethio p ia

So m a lia

D jib o uti

Ye me n

O m a n

O m a n

Un ite d A ra b E m ira te s

Q a ta r

Ba hra in

So c o tra (Ye m e n )

Turkey

Syria A fg h a n is ta n

Pa kis ta n

Ro m a n ia

Bu lg a ria

G re e c e

C yp rus

Le b a no n

Isra e l

J o rd a n

Russia

Eritre a

G e o rg ia

A rm e n ia A ze rb a ija n

K a za kh s ta n

Tu rkm e n ista n

Uzb e kista n

Ukra in e

0 2 0 0

4 0 0 m ile s

4 0 0

2 0 0 0

6 0 0 kilo m e te rs

3

Athabasca Glacier, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada Photo provided by the National Snow and Ice

Data Center

07-062A

Traditional Sustainability Strategies Treat Each Fuel Cycle Separately

Separate Fuel Cycles will not Eliminate Oil or Stop Climate Change

4

07-062

Combined Fuel Cycles are

Required for Sustainability

That has Major Nuclear Energy

Implications

5

Examples of

Combined Fuel Cycles

6

Example: Combined Nuclear-Fossil

Liquid-Fuels Fuel Cycle

Underground Refining

7

C. W. Forsberg, “Changing Biomass, Fossil, and Nuclear Fuel Cycles for Sustainability”, American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting, Salt Lake

City, Utah, November 4-9, 2007.

Liquid-Fuels Fuel Cycle for Crude Oil

07-052

Refinery

Oil Well

Transport

CrudeOil

(CH2)n

LiquidFuel

CarbonDioxide

Atmosphere

8

Conversion of Fossil Fuels to Liquid Fuels Requires Energy

Greenhouse Gas Releases and Energy Use In Fuel Processing Increase As Use Lower-Quality Feedstocks

Illinois #6 Coal Baseline

Pipeline Natural Gas

Wyoming Sweet Crude Oil

Venezuelan Syncrude

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Gre

enh

ouse

Im

pa

cts

(g C

O2-e

q/m

ile in

SU

V)

Conversion/RefiningTransportation/Distribution

End Use CombustionExtraction/Production

Business As Usual

Using Fuel

Making and

Delivering of Fuel

(Fisher-TropschLiquids)

(Fisher-TropschLiquids)

So

urce

of G

reenhou

se Im

pacts

9

07-075

Confining Strata

Heavy OilTar SandsShale Oil

Coal

Heat Wave Light Oil

In-Situ Refining

Thermal Cracker

Light Oil Distillate

CrudeOil

Heater

Petrocoke

HeaterWell

ProductionWell

Sequestered Carbon

Condense Gasoline

Cool

Condense Distillate

Cool

Distillation Column

Resid

Gases (Propane,

etc.)

Traditional Refining

An Alternative: Underground Refining

Produces Light Crude Oil While Sequestering Carbon From the Production and Refining Processes as Carbon

10

In-Situ Refining May Require Nuclear Heat Source

07-019

Nuclear-Heated In-Situ Oil-Shale Conversion Process

Nuclear Heat Avoids Greenhouse-Gas Releases from Oil Production

Oil Shale

Reheater

Overburden

Ice Wall (Isolate in-Situ Retort)

RefrigerationWells

Producer Wells

Cold Salt Reservoir Tank and Pump Room

>1 km

Hot Salt Reservoir Tank

Reactor

11

Example: Combined Nuclear-Biomass

Liquid-Fuels Fuel Cycle

Process Energy from a Nuclear Reactor

12

C. W. Forsberg, “Meeting U.S. Liquid Transport Fuel Needs with a Nuclear Hydrogen Biomass System’, American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual

Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah, November 4-9, 2007 .

05-014

Fuel Cycle for Liquid Fuels from Biomass

13

CxHy + (X + y 4

)O2

CO2 + ( y 2

)H2OLiquid Fuels

AtmosphericCarbon Dioxide

Fuel Factory

Biomass

Cars, Trucks, and Planes

No Net Greenhouse Gas

Emissions

05-014

Biomass Production, Transport, and Fuel Factories Use Energy

14

CxHy + (X + y 4

)O2

CO2 + ( y 2

)H2OLiquid Fuels

AtmosphericCarbon Dioxide

Fuel Factory

Biomass

Cars, Trucks, and Planes

Energy

BiomassNuclearOther

Logging ResiduesAgricultural Residues

Energy CropsUrban Residues

1.3-Billion-Tons Biomass are Available per Year to Produce Liquid Fuels

Available Biomass in the United States without Significantly Impacting Food, Fiber, and Timber

15

Biomass Liquid-Fuel Yield Depends Upon How the Biomass is Processed

Measured in Equivalent Barrels of Diesel Fuel/Day

07-058

Convert to Diesel Fuel with Outside

Hydrogen and Heat

Convert to Ethanol

Burn Biomass

12.4

4.7

9.8

0

5

10

15

En

erg

y V

alu

e (

106b

arr

els

of

die

se

l fu

el e

qu

ivale

nt

pe

r d

ay)

Can Meet U.S. Liquid-Fuel Demand If an Outside Energy Source For Processing Biomass

Biomass Energy Used to Convert Biomass to Fuel

16

07-060

The Nuclear-Hydrogen-Biomass Liquid-Fuel Cycle

CxHy + (X + y4

)O2

CO2 + ( y2

)H2O

CxHy + (X + y4

)O2

CO2 + ( y2

)H2OLiquid Fuels

AtmosphericCarbon Dioxide

Nuclear Reactor

Fuel Factory

Biomass

Heat Hydrogen Electricity

Nuclear Energy With Biomass Liquid Fuels Could Replace Oil-Based Transport Fuels in the United States

17

Urban Residues

Other Parts of the World Have Different Biomass Liquid-Fuel Options

18

Algae and Kelp (Ocean)

Sugar Cane (Bagasse)

Agricultural Residues (Rice Straw)

Many Potential Feedstocks for Nuclear-Biomass Liquid Fuels Production

Example: Combined

Nuclear-Renewable Electricity

Peak Electricity Production

19

C. W. Forsberg, “Economics of Meeting Peak Electricity Demand Using Nuclear Hydrogen and Oxygen,” Proc. International Topical Meeting on the Safety and

Technology of Nuclear Hydrogen Production, Control, and Management, Boston, Massachusetts, June 24-28, 2007, American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park,

Illinois. See backup slides for nuclear-fossil peak electricity options

Electricity Demand Varies with Time

Example: Daily Cycle

07-017

15000

17500

20000

22500

25000

0:00 4:00 8:00 12:00 16:00 20:00 0:00

Sy

ste

m L

oa

d (

MW

)

22200

22250

22300

22350

22400

8:00 8:15 8:30 8:45 9:00

Regulation

15000

17500

20000

22500

25000

0:00 4:00 8:00 12:00 16:00 20:00 0:00

Sy

ste

m L

oa

d (

MW

)

22200

22250

22300

22350

22400

8:00 8:15 8:30 8:45 9:00

Regulation

20

Large-Scale Renewable Electric Production may not be Viable without

Electricity Storage

Renewable electric output does not match electric demand

Problems exist on windless days, cloudy days, and at night

Low-cost backup power options are required

21

Fossil Fuels are Used Today to Match Electricity Demand with Production

Fossil fuels are inexpensive to store (coal piles, oil tanks, etc.)

Carbon dioxide sequestration is likely to be very expensive for peak-load fossil-fueled plants

If fossil fuel consumption is limited by greenhouse or cost constraints, what are the alternatives for peak power production?

Systems to convert fossil fuels to electricity have relatively low capital costs

22

Hydrogen Intermediate and Peak Electric System (HIPES)

06-015

Fuel Cells, Steam Turbines, or

Other TechnologyH2 ProductionNuclear Reactor

2H2O

Heatand/or

Electricity

2H2 + O2Underground

Hydrogen/Oxygen (Optional)Storage

Relative Capital Cost/KW

Facility

$$$$ $$ $ $$

EnergyProduction Rate vs Time

Time Time Time

Constant Constant Variable

Fuel Cells, Steam Turbines, or

Other TechnologyH2 ProductionNuclear Reactor

2H2O

Heatand/or

Electricity

2H2 + O2Underground

Hydrogen/Oxygen (Optional)Storage

Relative Capital Cost/KW

Facility

$$$$ $$ $ $$

EnergyProduction Rate vs Time

Time Time Time

Constant Constant Variable

23

Base Load

05-082

Norsk Atmospheric Electrolyser

Near term Electrolysis Electricity supply options

Base load Night time and surplus

renewables

Longer term High-temperature

electrolysis Hybrid Thermochemical

24

Nuclear Hydrogen Production Options

Key Nuclear Hydrogen Characteristics(H2, O2, Heat, Centralized Delivery)

are Independent of the Nuclear Hydrogen Technology

Bulk Hydrogen Storage is a Low-Cost Commercial Technology Chevron Phillips H2 Clemens Terminal 160 x 1000 ft cylinder salt cavern Same technology used for natural gas In the United States, one-third of a

year’s supply of natural gas is in 400 storage facilities in the fall

25

Use Same Technology for Oxygen Storage

Oxy-Hydrogen Turbine for Electricity

Low-Capital-Cost Efficient Conversion of H2 and O2 to Electricity for a Limited Number of Hours per Year

06-016

High-temperature steam cycle 2H2+ O2 → Steam

Low cost No boiler High efficiency

(70%)

Unique feature: Direct production of high-pressure high-temperature steam

Steam

1500º C

Hydrogen

Water

PumpCondenser

Burner

SteamTurbine

InOut

CoolingWater

Generator

Oxygen

26

Oxy-Fuel Combustors Are Being Developed for Advanced Fossil Plants

06-040

A hydrogen-oxygen combustor similar to natural gas–oxygen combustor

CES test unit 20 MW(t) Pressures from 2.07

to 10.34 MPa Combustion

chamber temperature: 1760ºC

Courtesy of Clean Energy Systems (CES)

27

HIPES may Enable Large-Scale Nuclear-Renewable Electricity

07-017

HIPES strategy Low-cost daily, weekly,

and seasonal bulk H2 and O2 storage

Low-cost conversion to electricity

Match production with demand Renewables have highly

variable power output Can adjust to rapidly

varying renewables output (full utilization)

15000

17500

20000

22500

25000

0:00 4:00 8:00 12:00 16:00 20:00 0:00

Syst

em L

oad

(MW

)

22200

22250

22300

22350

22400

8:00 8:15 8:30 8:45 9:00

Regulation

15000

17500

20000

22500

25000

0:00 4:00 8:00 12:00 16:00 20:00 0:00

Syst

em L

oad

(MW

)

22200

22250

22300

22350

22400

8:00 8:15 8:30 8:45 9:00

Regulation

28

07-062

Combined Fuel Cycles have

Implications for Nuclear Energy

29

Requirements for SustainableNuclear Combined Cycles

Nuclear—Fossil—Biomass—Renewable

Different nuclear inputs required for combined-cycle energy futures Low-temperature steam High-temperature heat Hydrogen and oxygen

Different options require different mixes of energy inputs

Many combined fuel cycles require development of auxiliary technologies

30

07-068

Biomass to Ethanol and Diesel

Example Option Requiring Large Quantities of Low-Temperature Steam and Small Quantities of Hydrogen

Biomass(1.3 billion tons/year)

Cellulose(65-85% Biomass)

Lignin(15-35% Biomass)

Gasoline/Diesel

Ethanol

Steam

Ethanol Plant Steam Plant Lignin Plant Nuclear Reactor Ethanol Plant

Hydrogen(small

quantities)

Heat

Steam

BiomassNuclearBiomass

50% Increase Liquid Fuel/Unit Biomass

Electricity

Ethanol

31

Reactor Implications for SustainableNuclear Combined Cycles

Nuclear—Fossil—Biomass—Renewable

Many applications may need smaller reactors Underground refining heat demand per acre limits

reactor size Cost of biomass transport limits transport distances

and thus the size of reactor Need for high-temperature reactors

Oil processing temperatures Peak electricity production

Need for reactors in different environments Site security costs must be controlled Safety systems must be simplified

32

07-076

Nuclear Systems Protects Fuel and Public

Fuel Protects Nuclear System and Public

Emergency Systems

Doppler Shutdown

Decay Heat Removed By Conduction

Goal: “Indestructable” Fuel

VesselFuel

Vessel

Containment

Fuel

Security Fence

Traditional “Fuel-Based”Advanced System

Some Combined Cycles may Require Alternative Nuclear Reactor Designs

Requires Limits on the Size of Operating Crews and Security Forces

33

07-077

Low

Metal

Magnox

LowMedium

Oxide

LWR

Rating

Characteristics

Fuel Type

HighHigh Medium

Multi-layer

Refractory Oxide

Coated Particle

LWR MOX

Low

Metal

Magnox

LowMedium

Oxide

LWR

Rating

Characteristics

Fuel Type

HighHigh Medium

Multi-layer

Refractory Oxide

Coated Particle

LWR MOX

Fuel Fabrication

Fuel Fabrication Nuclear

Reactor

ProcessingProcessing RepositoryRepository

Reactor Safety

Non-Proliferation

Cost of Reprocessing

Waste Form Quality

Spent Fuel

RecycleDirect Disposal

Fuel Characteristics

Waste

Recycle ?

Alternative Nuclear Reactor Designs may Require Alternative Fuel Cycles

“Abuse-Resistant” Fuel Characteristics and Processing Cost are More Favorable for Direct Disposal

34

Conclusions

Sustainability goals No oil consumption No climate change

Sustainability will require integration of fossil, biomass, and nuclear fuel cycles with different nuclear products Steam High-temperature heat Hydrogen

Combined fossil, renewable, nuclear fuel cycles create requirements for nuclear reactors

Some sustainability options may require reactors with “abuse-resistant” fuels

35

Questions

36

Backup Slides

Backup Slides

Backup Slides

37

—Abstract—

Combining Nuclear, Renewable, and Fossil Fuel Cycles For Sustainability

Charles W. ForsbergOak Ridge National Laboratory; P.O. Box 2008; Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6165Tel: (865) 574-6783; Fax: (865) 574-0382; E-mail: forsbergcw@ornl.gov

The energy and chemical industries face two great sustainability challenges: the need to avoid climate change and the need to replace crude oil as the basis of our transport and chemical industries. These challenges can be met by changing and synergistically combining the fossil, biomass, renewable, and nuclear fuel cycles.

Fossil fuel cycles. Fossil fuel cycles must be changed to reduce greenhouse impacts and will require options beyond carbon-dioxide sequestration. In situ thermal cracking of heavy oils, oil shale, and coal may enable the production of high-quality transport fuels while sequestering the byproduct carbon from the production processes without moving it from the original underground deposits. Nuclear-fossil combined-cycle power plants may enable the large scale use of renewable electricity by matching electricity production to demand. However, these and other options require integration of high-temperature heat from nuclear reactors with fossil systems.

Biomass fuel cycles. The use of biomass for production of liquid fuels and chemicals avoids the release of greenhouse gases. However, biomass resources are insufficient to (1) meet liquid fuel demands and (2) provide the energy required to process biomass into liquid fuels and chemicals. For biomass to ultimately meet our needs for liquid fuels and chemicals, outside sources of heat and hydrogen are required for the production facilities with biomass limited to use as a feedstock to maximize liquid-fuels production per unit biomass.

Renewable electric fuel cycles. Nuclear energy can economically provide base-load but not peak-load electricity. Increased use of renewable electric systems implies variable electricity production that does not match electric demand. Today, peak electricity is produced using fossil fuels—an option that may not be viable if there are constraints on greenhouse gas emissions. Nuclear-produced hydrogen combined with underground hydrogen storage may create new methods to meet peak power production such as HIPES and NCCCs.

Nuclear fuel cycles. Nuclear energy can provide the stationary greenhouse-neutral steam, high-temperature heat and hydrogen for alternative biomass, fossil, and renewable fuel cycles. However, in many cases this will require high-temperature reactors, a potential change in reactor safety philosophy, and nuclear fuels that are nearly indestructible.

38

Biography: Charles Forsberg

Dr. Charles Forsberg is a Corporate Fellow at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society, and recipient of the 2005 Robert E. Wilson Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers for outstanding chemical engineering contributions to nuclear energy, including his work in hydrogen production and nuclear-renewable energy futures. He received the American Nuclear Society special award for innovative nuclear reactor design and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Engineer of the Year Award. Dr. Forsberg earned his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota and his doctorate in Nuclear Engineering from MIT. He has been awarded 10 patents and has published over 200 papers.

39

Example: Combined

Nuclear-Fossil-Renewable

Electricity Fuel Cycle

Nuclear-Fossil Peak Electricity

40

C. W. Forsberg, “An Air-Brayton Nuclear Hydrogen Combined-Cycle Peak- and Base-Load Electric Plant,” CD-ROM, IMECE2007-43907, 2007 ASME International

Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Seattle, Washington, November 11-15, 2007, American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Electricity Demand Varies with Time

07-017

Variable electric demand met by fossil units (natural gas, etc.) Low fuel-storage cost Relatively low fossil-to-

electricity capital costs

What if greenhouse gas emission limits on fossil fuels?

A capital-intensive nuclear-renewables electric system has no good method to match electricity production with demand

15000

17500

20000

22500

25000

0:00 4:00 8:00 12:00 16:00 20:00 0:00

Syst

em L

oad

(MW

)

22200

22250

22300

22350

22400

8:00 8:15 8:30 8:45 9:00

Regulation

15000

17500

20000

22500

25000

0:00 4:00 8:00 12:00 16:00 20:00 0:00

Syst

em L

oad

(MW

)

22200

22250

22300

22350

22400

8:00 8:15 8:30 8:45 9:00

Regulation

41

Nuclear-Combustion Combined Cycle (NCCC) System

High-Temperature Nuclear Heat with Natural Gas or Hydrogen

07-001

FeedwaterPump

SteamTurbine

Generator

Condenser

To Stack

Heat Recovery

Boiler

Turbine

Generator

Steam Turbine Cycle

Exhaust Gas

Gas Turbine Cycle

Air

Compressor

Fuel

Combustor(Peak Electricity)

Heat from Reactor(Base-Load Electricity)

Two Heat Sources

42

Natural Gas or Hydrogen Can Be the Fuels for Peak Electricity Production

07-017

FeedwaterPump

SteamTurbine

Generator

Condenser

To Stack

Heat Recovery

Boiler

Turbine

Generator

Exhaust Gas

Air

Compressor

Fuel

Combustor(PeakElectricity)

Heat From Reactor(Base Load Electricity)

Natural gas Base-load electricity

production uses nuclear heat Natural gas used only for peak

electricity production

Hydrogen Hydrogen produced during

periods of low electricity demand (electrolysis or other technology)

Hydrogen stored in underground storage systems like natural gas

Hydrogen used only for peak power production

43

An NCCC Plant has Fast Response Times

07-017

FeedwaterPump

SteamTurbine

Generator

Condenser

To Stack

Heat Recovery

Boiler

Turbine

Generator

Exhaust Gas

Air

Compressor

Fuel

Combustor(PeakElectricity)

Heat From Reactor(Base Load Electricity)

Key characteristics Air is heated above the auto-

ignition temperature so any air-fuel ratio is combustible (Dial-in power levels)

Compressor operates at constant speed and powered by nuclear heat—no additional compressor inertia or load with increased electricity production

Theoretical response speed limited by: Valve opening speed Flight time from injector to the

gas turbine

44

An NCCC may Enable Large-Scale Nuclear-Renewable Electricity

07-017

Reduce fossil greenhouse gas releases Only used for peak

power production

Match production with demand Solar and some other

renewables have highly variable power output

Can adjust to rapidly varying renewables output (full utilization)

15000

17500

20000

22500

25000

0:00 4:00 8:00 12:00 16:00 20:00 0:00

Syst

em L

oad

(MW

)

22200

22250

22300

22350

22400

8:00 8:15 8:30 8:45 9:00

Regulation

15000

17500

20000

22500

25000

0:00 4:00 8:00 12:00 16:00 20:00 0:00

Syst

em L

oad

(MW

)

22200

22250

22300

22350

22400

8:00 8:15 8:30 8:45 9:00

Regulation

45

Property Basis Technical Fuel Implication

High-Temperature

Prevent accident releases

Refractory

Chemical Resistant

Prevent accident releases

Multilayer resistance to oxidation and reduction

Stress resistance

Avoid structural failure Encapsulated fuel; matrix for stress

Shock resistant

Accident and assault Encapsulated fuel with inert matrix to withstand shock damage to fuel

Potential Requirements for Small Dispersed-Reactor Fuel

46

Comparison of Traditional Nuclear Fuels and “Abuse-Resistant” Fuels

Property Traditional Fuel

(Magnox, LWR)

Abuse-Resistant Fuel (Coated Particle, etc.)

Fuel Fraction 65–95% <10%

Reactor Safety

Reactor systems protect fuel

Fuel is the safety system

Reprocessing Simple Fuel designed to be indestructible

Security Not a design consideration

Intrinsic resistance to abuse

Abuse-resistant fuel properties make such fuel: (1) expensive to recycle and (2) an excellent waste form

47