Re:The First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Was Just Approved...
by politician on Saturday August 06, 2022 @01:47PM
(#32370102)
An array of SMRs is dispatchable even though a single SMR is not. It’s a scheduling problem.
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Re:The First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Was Just Approved...
by epistasis on Saturday August 06, 2022 @01:51PM
(#32370149)
Oh really, what's the ramp rate of this design? I haven't heard anybody claim that ability for SMRs.
What makes an array more dispatchable than a single SMR? I don't follow how that could be possible.
Re:The First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Was Just Approved...
by njarboe on Saturday August 06, 2022 @02:28PM
(#32370431)
Elsewhere in the thread, credit_guy quotes 20% to 100% in 96 minutes[1].
Re:The First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Was Just Approved...
by natmaka on Sunday August 07, 2022 @10:00AM
(#32376529)
Not sure 96 minutes will be sufficient in all load-following cases (bar a huge and therefore very expensive fleet of reactors). A gas turbine is way ahead here. Moreover in existing reactors the frequency of such adjustments is limited, for example "no more than twice a day, with a minimal 5-hours pause between modulations, and no more than 150 modulations per year". Approaching limits adds maintenance time (at shutdown state). I don't know if SMRs alleviate this, but given the causes I doubt so.
Re:The First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Was Just Approved...
by labawi on Sunday August 07, 2022 @04:22PM
(#32379530)
We will likely have sufficient battery storage where 1.5h would be acceptable though not quite ideal. It still requires quite a bit of storage, but its entirely doable for seasonal variations (the harder problem) and perhaps even daily cycles (the lesser problem).