Design and economic analysis of a novel hybrid nuclear-solar complementary power system for power generation and desalination

In this study, a novel nuclear-solar complementary power (NSCP) system using heavy liquid metal is proposed for electricity and freshwater productions. A small nuclear reactor and a solar tower receiver are integrated in this multi-energy complementary system. Liquid lead-bismuth eutectic alloy is utilized as the heat transfer medium in the solar energy block. The Ebsilon software is used to model the NSCP system. The design point behaviour estimate results show that the electric power and electric efficiency of the NSCP system are 318.8 MW and 39.3%. The solar power capacity proportion is 43.5%. The freshwater daily output of the NSCP system is 3891.8 t. The exergy evaluation results reveal that the solar tower receiver has the maximum exergy loss (345.81 MW) with the exergy efficiency of 46.2%. The annual operation behaviour analysis results of the NSCP system reveal that under the assumed operation strategy, high power generation capacity factors can be achieved. The economic investigation results show that the levelized cost of electricity of the NSCP system is 0.0517 $. (kWh)(-1). Compared with a desalination system driven by a coal-fired power plant, the desalination block of the NSCP system can have an annual cost saving of 680423.0 $.

Automated summary

A novel nuclear-solar complementary power system utilizing heavy liquid metal is proposed in this study, which can produce electricity and freshwater. The system shows high efficiency and cost savings according to simulations and analysis.