Nuclear Executive Update   
An EPRI Progress Report, May 2011
TECHNICAL HIGHLIGHTS
WANTED: Innovative Technologies for Addressing Water Challenges

A multi-sector effort across EPRI is pursuing high-potential water conservation concepts for new and existing power plants.

Water use is fundamental to power generation, primarily for cooling purposes. Its availability, in sufficient quantity and quality, drives decisions on new plant siting and long-term operations. Further, water must be returned to the environment with minimal impacts to human and aquatic species.

 
   

Evolving regulations, changes in climate, and population growth affect water availability and use, but because these drivers touch individual power plants in different ways, water is essentially a regional issue. In terms of technology needs, therefore, there are not simple solutions that can be applied across the fleet; what is needed is a "toolbox" of solutions that can be utilized appropriately for diverse plants. Cooling options for a plant in an arid climate with high water usage costs will be dramatically different from options for a plant in a wet climate concerned with meeting emerging fish protection regulations.

EPRI's water research targets the gaps that exist between the current state of the technology and where the industry needs to be in meeting these challenges. For example, most of the known water-conserving technologies, such as air-cooled condensers, hybrid cooling, and degraded water use, result in significant capital outlays, lower efficiency, and operational and maintenance issues.

EPRI's Technology Innovation Program has initiated long-term research to expand the water conservation options available for new and existing generation. For example, hybrid cooling for plume abatement and water conservation is likely to expand for new nuclear plants. Existing hybrid cooling systems have consisted largely of air-cooled condensers in parallel with wet cooling towers. Advances in hybrid cooling technologies are needed to reduce capital costs and the operational challenges associated with balancing wet and dry cooling modes.

A key element of EPRI's water-related Technology Innovation effort is a solicitation to identify high potential water conservation concepts. EPRI has received more than 70 proposals from this solicitation related to cycle efficiency improvement, water resource expansion, and advanced cooling technologies. These concepts are being reviewed by an expert advisory panel with representation from academia, national energy laboratories, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the electric power industry. The most promising technologies in the earlier stages of technology readiness (higher risk) will be developed through EPRI's Technology Innovation Program to a point where they can be transferred to existing research and development programs for field deployment.

For more information, contact Sean Bushart at 650.855.8752 or sbushart@epri.com.