Modeling and operation strategy of nuclear power plant with electric heat storage in the ancillary service market

In the power ancillary service market, power sources can participate in peak shaving and obtain profits. However, nuclear power plants (NPPs) cannot contribute sufficient peak-shaving capability to the power system and obtain peak-shaving profits due to their limited flexibility as the base load. To tackle this challenge, an electrothermal coupled model for NPPs is proposed in this paper, which combines the characteristics and constraints of nuclear power units and electric heat storage (EHS). The coupling model can enhance the flexible adjustment capability of NPPs by increasing their self-consumption. Meanwhile, the operation strategy of NPPs considering the electrothermal coupling model is developed to enhance the NPP operation profits. Moreover, a cost calcu-lation method for NPPs is developed, which can calculate the peak-shaving compensation and cost-sharing of NPPs. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by numerous simulations using the model of the Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Plant in Liaoning, China. Compared with the three traditional methods, the profit of the EHS is increased by 3%, the peak-shaving compensation is enhanced by 4.4%. Meanwhile, the cost-sharing is reduced by 40%, and the total profits of the proposed method are improved by 18.9%.

Automated summary

This paper proposes an electrothermal coupled model for nuclear power plants (NPPs) to enhance their flexible adjustment capability and operation profits. The model combines the characteristics and constraints of nuclear power units and electric heat storage (EHS). It also develops an operation strategy and a cost calculation method for NPPs, which improve peak-shaving compensation and cost-sharing. Simulation results using the Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Plant model in China demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, achieving increased EHS profit, enhanced peak-shaving compensation, reduced cost-sharing, and improved total profits.