Optimization of electricity / hydrogen cogeneration from generation IV nuclear energy systems

Abstract

One of the great motivations of studying and developing Generation IV (Gen IV) reactors of VHTR (Very High Temperature Reactor) design concept is their capacity to efficiently produce both electricity and H2 (hydrogen). This study aims at developing an optimization methodology for cogeneration systems of H2 and electricity, from Gen IV nuclear reactors, with respect to energy constraints, economics and conjuncture in term of demand. It lies within a scope of a collaboration between the Laboratoire de Génie Chimique (Toulouse, France) and the Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique (CEA, Cadarache, France) in order to compare various cogeneration systems from both energy and economics viewpoint. This paper presents the results of an optimization study based on the “minimal destruction of exergy” or “exergy loss” concept. This criterion, used within the framework of a mono-objective genetic algorithm optimizer, was applied successfully to electric and heat production from Gen IV systems