The Choice of Technical Route to Replace Coal-fired Units with Nuclear Power Units

Objective Under the background of "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality", China's emission reduction pressure is great, nuclear energy as a stable near "zero carbon" energy, is a good alternative energy. But the current nuclear power units and coal-fired units site requirements gap is large, which nuclear power units to replace decommissioned coal-fired units more appropriate, need to be analyzed and discussed.

Method By analyzing the global carbon reduction situation, the current development status of nuclear power development in China, and the construction status of new power system in China, the necessity of replacing coal-fired units with nuclear power units was discussed. The feasibility of in-situ replacement of decommissioned coal-fired units by nuclear power reactors was analyzed from three aspects: site replacement, host parameters and land use index. And the technical direction of replacing decommissioned coal-fired units with in-situ nuclear power units was explored.

Result The analysis and demonstration show that high temperature gas cooled reactor has certain advantages in site replacement, main engine parameters and land use index replacement.

Conclusion It is necessary to replace decommissioned coal-fired units with nuclear power units in the current power situation in China. High temperature gas cooled reactor (HTGR) is a suitable alternative technology route. The paper can provide reference suggestions for the development of fire nuclear substitution under the "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality" goals in China.