3 ms·
Typical coal plants use superheated steam at around 540C and turbines designed for that, whereas LWRs produce wet steam at 300C, so no. High-temperature reacto
by jabl 8y ago
Typical coal plants use superheated steam at around 540C and turbines designed for that, whereas LWRs produce wet steam at 300C, so no.
High-temperature reactors can produce superheated steam, but then it's not a LWR and you give up on all the knowhow how to run those. The Chinese are planning to deploy gas cooled pebble bed reactors which could replace the coal furnace at existing plants (HTR-PM).
- i_am_proteus 8y agoAlt. take: one could not reuse the turbines, at least not efficiently. One might be able to reuse other parts of the steam/condensate/feed systems. The electrical systems could largely be reused. I doubt that reusing anything other than the power distribution and cooling loops would be economical.
- AstralStorm 8y agoDon't forget maintenance stations and other office housing required to run the plant.