EXPLORATORY STUDIES OF THE APPLICATION OF GAS-COOLED REACTORS TO COAL CONVERSION

摘要

An exploratory study was made of the technology and economics of coupling a very high temperature gas-cooled reactor (VHTR) to a variety of coal-conversion applications. It is concluded that nuclear steam reforming of light hydrocarbons for coal conversion could be a near-term alternative and direct nuclear coal gasification could be a future consideration. Thermochemical water splitting appears to be more costly and its availability farther in the future than the coal-conversion systems. An examination of the materials required in process heat exchangers is made.