Compact, Transportable Nuclear Power Systems For Rapid Deployment To Remote Locations For Industry, Oil Recovery, Municipalities And Disaster Relief

Abstract

A variety of nuclear reactor systems have been proposed for electric and/or thermal power generation at remote locations to serve local residents and/or industry. In general, these systems cannot be rapidly deployed to or removed from a site, but require substantial time and effort for installation. The new DEER (Deployable Electric Energy Reactor) system can be transported to any location by existing air, sea or ground vehicles, and begin operation in a few days. DEER uses the same TRIGA fuel that is widely and very safely used in many research reactors around the World, with pressurized water coolant and a standard steam cycle for electric generation. The DEER reactor is enclosed inside an integral tantalum gamma shield that enables rapid removal of the reactor unit after shutdown, with very acceptable radiation doses to handling and transport personnel, permitting removal of the unit a couple of days after shutdown. Designs for 10 MW(e) and 50 MW(e) DEER reactors are described. With integral shield, the 10 MW(e) [50 MW(th)] reactor unit weighs 13 metric tons, and the 50 MW(e) [200 MW(th)] unit, 40 tons. Reactor criticality and burnup performance are based on 3D MCNP and Monte Burns analyses, with full representational geometry. Operational life is in the range of 2 to 10 years, depending on design and reactor duty factor. The DEER reactor unit is transported separately from the steam turbine/generator and thermal heat rejection units (heat ejection into the atmosphere, using a turbine discharge pressure of 1 atm and 100° C temperature), with integration of the units at the site. The unique, rapidly transportable capability of the DEER system enables it to be quickly deployed. For industrial uses, e.g. oil recovery from shale or tar sands in Canada, DEER can be readily moved to new locations when the old fields have been depleted. Power for natural disaster sites (earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis) can be supplied immediately, and be relocated to new sites when required. Western Canada is a high risk area for extremely severe earthquakes (Richter Scale 9) on the San Juan fault. The deployment, operation, shutdown, and removal capabilities of DEER systems are described for industrial and disaster relief applications. A five year program to develop and certify the DEER system is described.