PIME 2004 / Barcelona, Feb. 10, 2004Nuclear Energy Division 1

PIME 2004

plenary sessionFebruary 10, 2004 – Barcelona

Preparing the future : New challenges for nuclear energy systems

Patrice BERNARDHead of the Nuclear Development and Innovation Division

French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) patrice.bernard@cea.fr

 

PIME 2004 / Barcelona, Feb. 10, 2004Nuclear Energy Division 2

World projected energy demand

Source : IIASA/WEC study, « Global Energy Perspectives » , 1998

Gtoe/yearA : High growth (Income, energy, technology)

B : Modest growth

C : Ecologically driven growth

PIME 2004 / Barcelona, Feb. 10, 2004Nuclear Energy Division 3

Towards a revival of nuclear ?

USA : “The NEPD Group recommends that the President support the expansion of nuclear energy in the United States as a major component of our national energy policy.” Report of the National Energy Policy Development Group, May 2001

Europe « … the need to keep nuclear power at the heart of Europe’s energy mix  » European Parliament resolution, Novembre 2001

PIME 2004 / Barcelona, Feb. 10, 2004Nuclear Energy Division 4

The Evolution of Nuclear Power

Generation I

Generation II

1950 1970 1990 2010 2030 2050 2070 2090

Generation III

First First ReactorsReactors

UNGG

CHOOZ

Current Current ReactorsReactors

REP 900

REP 1300

N4 EPR

Advanced Advanced ReactorsReactors

Future Future SystemsSystems

Generation IV

PIME 2004 / Barcelona, Feb. 10, 2004Nuclear Energy Division 5

USA + 1500 Power Plants

by 2020 including nuclear (> 50 GWe)

FINLAND 5th reactor

Source : TotalFinaElf0%

20%

40%

60%

1900 1950 2000 2050

Coal R en

Oil

Gas

HydroNuclear

KOREAnuclear capacity increase + 9 Gwe

by ~ 2015

INDIA nuclear capacity

increase from 2.5 to 20 GWe by 2020

JAPAN nuclear capacity

increase + 21 Gwe by 2012

CHINA nuclear capacity

increase > 30 Gweby 2020

BRAZIL Nuclear Program

Revival

USA + 1500 Power Plants

by 2020 including nuclear (> 50 GWe)

FINLAND 5th reactor

Source : TotalFinaElf0%

20%

40%

60%

1900 1950 2000 20500%

20%

40%

60%

1900 1950 2000 2050

Coal R en

Oil

Gas

HydroNuclear

KOREAnuclear capacity increase + 9 Gwe

by ~ 2015

INDIA nuclear capacity

increase from 2.5 to 20 GWe by 2020

JAPAN nuclear capacity

increase + 21 Gwe by 2012

CHINA nuclear capacity

increase > 30 Gweby 2020

BRAZIL Nuclear Program

Revival

Significant prospects for nuclear energy in the world

PIME 2004 / Barcelona, Feb. 10, 2004Nuclear Energy Division 6

Gen III : a mature technology for near term development

Generation III reactors identified as

‘Near Term Deployment’ by the Generation IV Forum

Advanced Pressurized Water Reactors

AP 600, AP 1000, APR1400, APWR+, EPR

Advanced Boiling Water Reactors

ABWR II, ESBWR, HC-BWR, SWR-1000

Advanced Heavy Water Reactors

ACR-700 (Advanced CANDU Reactor 700)

Small and middle range power integrated Reactors

CAREM, IMR, IRIS, SMART

High Temperature, Gas Cooled, Modular Reactors

GT-MHR, PBMR

PIME 2004 / Barcelona, Feb. 10, 2004Nuclear Energy Division 7

Gen III / EPR : significant improvements in safety,

Le projet EPRLe projet EPR

Core meltspreading area

Double-wall containmentwith ventilation and filtration system

Containmentheat removalsystem

Four-trainredundancyfor main safeguardsystems

Inner refueling

water storage tank

EPR

… but also in economics, waste reduction and U preservation

PIME 2004 / Barcelona, Feb. 10, 2004Nuclear Energy Division 8

• Concepts with breakthroughsConcepts with breakthroughsMinimization of wastes

Preservation of resources

Non Proliferation

Systems expected to reach technical maSystems expected to reach technical maturity by 2030turity by 2030

Assets for new marketsAssets for new markets - hydrogen production

- direct use of heat- sea water desalination

An internaAn internatitionally shared R&Donally shared R&D

New requirements for sustainable nuclear energyNew requirements for sustainable nuclear energy

Génération IV

International Forum

Members

Génération IV

International Forum

Members

U.S.A.U.S.A.

ArgentinaArgentina

BrazilBrazil

CanadaCanadaFranceFrance

JapanJapan

South AfricaSouth Africa

UnitedUnitedKingdomKingdom

South KoreaSouth Korea

SwitzerlSwitzerlandand

GEN IV : towards sustainable nuclear energy

• GradualGradual improvements in : improvements in : Competitiveness

Safety and reliability

E.U.E.U.

PIME 2004 / Barcelona, Feb. 10, 2004Nuclear Energy Division 9

Very High Temperature Reactor

6 Innovative concepts with technological breakthroughs

Sodium Fast reactor

Closed Fuel Cycle

Once Through

Supercritical Water Reactor

Once/Closed

Molten Salt Reactor

Closed Fuel Cycle

Closed Fuel Cycle

Lead Fast Reactor

Gas Fast Reactor

Closed Fuel Cycle

PIME 2004 / Barcelona, Feb. 10, 2004Nuclear Energy Division 10

Gen IV Systems : an integrated cycle with full actinide recycling

• A drastic minimization of ultimate wastes : - very small volumes, - hundreds of years compared to hundreds of thousands

• A optimal use of energetic materials : thousands of years duration

Unat

Actinides

Spentfuel

Ultimate wastes

FP

GEN IV FR

Treatment and

Re-fabrication

PIME 2004 / Barcelona, Feb. 10, 2004Nuclear Energy Division 11

FPMA + FP

Spent fuel(Pu + MA + FP)

Natural uranium ore

Time (years)

Rel

ativ

e ra

dio

toxi

city

FPMA + FP

Spent fuel(Pu + MA + FP)

Natural uranium ore

Time (years)

Rel

ativ

e ra

dio

toxi

city

Evolution of the radiotoxicity

PIME 2004 / Barcelona, Feb. 10, 2004Nuclear Energy Division 12

GEN IV : Gas Cooled Reactors

VHTR

GFR

HTR

Fast neutrons Full Actinide recycling

Hydrogen production

PIME 2004 / Barcelona, Feb. 10, 2004Nuclear Energy Division 13

Nuclear energy will be essential for :• Electrical power generation

… but also for new markets :• Hydrogen production• Direct use of Heat• Sea water desalination

Nuclear HeatNuclear HeatHydrogenHydrogen OxygenOxygen

H2O22

1

900 C400 C

Rejected Heat 100 C

Rejected Heat 100 C

S (Sulfur)Circulation

SO2+H2O+

O221

H2SO4

SO2+

H2OH2O

H2

I2

+ 2HI

H2SO4

SO2+H2OH2O

+

+ +

I (Iodine)Circulation

2H I

I2

I2

WaterWater

Nuclear HeatNuclear HeatHydrogenHydrogen OxygenOxygen

H2O22

1 O22121

900 C400 C

Rejected Heat 100 C

Rejected Heat 100 C

S (Sulfur)Circulation

SO2+H2O+

O221

H2SO4

SO2+

H2OH2O

H2

I2

+ 2HI

H2SO4

SO2+H2OH2O

+

+ +

I (Iodine)Circulation

2H I

I2

I2

WaterWater

Very High Temperature ReactorVery High Temperature Reactor

Hydrogen : a new energy vector

Fuel Cell Prototypevehicle

(hydrogen)

PIME 2004 / Barcelona, Feb. 10, 2004Nuclear Energy Division 14

kWth

1000

100

10

1

1000

100

10

MWth

réacteur

Puissance

10 100 1000 10000

durée d'impulsion (s)

JET

ITER

Réacteur

Tore Supra

Fusion : a necessary demonstration step

Power

Reactor

Pulse length

REACTOR

Dec. 2003 : 6 min.

16 MW

~ 2035 : scientific feasibility.

~ 2070 ? Demonstration

PIME 2004 / Barcelona, Feb. 10, 2004Nuclear Energy Division 15

Calendar for the ITER Project

1990 2005 2015 2035

Engineering Construction Operation

PIME 2004 / Barcelona, Feb. 10, 2004Nuclear Energy Division 16

Conclusion

Increasing needs for the next 50 years and beyond ; nuclear energy should play a key role

Demonstrated performances of current GEN II reactors : safe and competitive.

An expected gradual implementation of GEN III reactors between 2000 and 2030 with new improvements

Next step in Fission : Gen IV systems should reach technical maturity by 2030, allowing for a sustainable energy for thousands of years

Prospect for the long term, Fusion : • a necessary demonstration feasibility with ITER• a possible complementary path for long term energy

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