Small nuclear power generation units, and electric power system interconnection

In this paper, we introduced a new paradigm for energy supply system in near future which produces electric and district heat cogeneration with dispersed power grid with small nuclear power generation units (SNPGU). Recently, in nuclear field, a lot of effort has been done in nuclear major countries to develop small and medium reactor for enhancement of nuclear peaceful use as like in district heating, electric power generation, seawater desalination or hydrogen generation. In Korea, KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) has been developing an integral type nuclear cogeneration reactor, SMART (system-integrated modular advance reactor). SMART is a modular pressurized water reactor and it is expected to be used for dual-purpose applications of seawater desalination and small-scale power generation. Since SMART is located relatively near the residential area, SMART have highly enhanced safety characteristics compared with current nuclear power plants (NPPs). This paper presents the distributed & remote cogeneration system using small reactor, which connects and supports main power distribution grids or island areas of maintaining Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). The electric power capacity of the developed SNPGU has 2 MW, 5 MW, 10 MW, and 20 MW