Engineering
Thermodynamic Analysis of a novel nuclear-DCSEC cogeneration system
Erik Ahdritz
Engineering
Erik Ahdritz
Desalination technology is of utmost importance for combating water scarcity, as it allows humans to tap the limitless water of the ocean. Nuclear desalination is a subset of thermal-based desalination technologies and is promising in its ability to utilize nuclear waste heat (i.e. low-grade heat that is to be wasted in modern power-generation and industrial processes). DCSEC (Direct contact spray-assisted evaporation and condensation) is a powerful thermal desalination technology that uses high-pressure spray nozzles to make flash-boiling more efficient. A SCWR (Supercritical water reactor) is a generation-3 high-efficiency reactor that produces waste steam. A mathematical model is constructed of a system combining the two, and variables such as energy allocation, waste-steam temperature, and physical variables concerning the DCSEC system will be considered. Three outputs: water production, electricity production, and thermal efficiency will be measured. This system is expected to outcompete current nuclear desalination technologies.