How Nuclear Power Can Transform Electric Grid and Critical Infrastructure Resilience
Table 2 . Enabling rNPP Design Features ( Greene 2018c )
Potentially Enabling rNPP Design Features
1 . DC-DC a or VFT b NPP interface with Grid
2 . Robust seismic isolation and below-grade siting
Impact
• Buffers rNPP from Grid transmission load and offsite power quality anomalies
• Buffers rNPP from seismic events and external events / attacks
3 . High-capacity load switching and heat rejection
4 . Multi-module ( reactor ) NPP architecture
5 . Small reactor ( module ) size
6 . Adaptive turbinegenerator systems
• Substitutes alternate thermal or electrical load in case of Grid-based loss-of-load events
• Enables one operating reactor module to supply shutdown cooling and housekeeping electrical loads to other rNPP reactor modules
• Enables one reactor module to crank other reactor modules in rNPP
• Reduces cranking power requirements of individual reactor modules in rNPP
• Enables non-traditional cranking power supplies for rNPP
• Reduces individual reactor module shutdown heat removal and housekeeping electrical loads .
• Enhances rNPPs load-following and flexible operation capability
7 . Passive shutdown cooling • Eliminates dependence of rNPP on consumable onsite resources and offsite assistance to maintain safe shutdown state
• Reduces or eliminates need for redundant Class 1E electrical power sources for safety assurance
8 . Inherent reactor system energy storage capacity
9 . Optimized reactor core physics design
• Buffers rNPP and individual rNPP reactor modules from electrical ( transmission system ) load transients
• Enables rapid rNPP reactor module power maneuvering and restart across entire fuel cycle
10 . Robust nuclear fuels • Increases rNPP reactor module ’ s power maneuvering capability and accident tolerance
11 . GMD c / EMP d hardened electronics
12 . Hack-Resistant computer and process control systems
• Increases rNPP tolerance of GMD events and EMP attacks
• Reduces rNPP vulnerability to cyber attack
45