Utilization of heat from a nuclear high temperature cooled modulator reactor in a crude oil refinery : techno-economic feasibility analysis

Abstract

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.