Thermo-economic-environmental analysis and performance-based Pareto optimization of a floating nuclear power plant

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive thermo-economic-environmental analysis and performance-based Pareto optimization of a Floating Small Modular Reactor Power Plant (F-SMRP) along the Bushehr coast (Iran), designed to meet regional electricity demands. Innovative ideas are employed to predict the thermodynamic properties of the F-SMRP using an artificial neural network. Upon model verification, a detailed 4E (energy, exergy, exergoeconomic, and environmental economics) analysis is conducted. Further, performance optimization is carried out targeting key metrics such as exergy efficiency (${\eta }_{\mathrm{II}}$), the total capital cost rate (${\dot{C}}_{\mathrm{tot}}^{I\&O\&M}$), and the total product exergy cost rate (${\dot{C}}_P$) using the artificial bee colony algorithm. The final optimal configuration, referred to as the Optimized F-SMRP (OF-SMRP), is determined through the analytic hierarchy process decision-making. The results demonstrate that F-SMRP achieves ${\eta }_{I,F-SMRP}$ and ${\eta }_{\mathrm{II},F-SMRP}$ of 29.9 % and 64.12 %, respectively, with corresponding ${\dot{C}}_{\mathrm{tot},F-SMRP}^{I\&O\&M}$ and ${\dot{C}}_{P,F-SMRP}$ of $331.8/hour and $6191.8/hour. In contrast, OF-SMRP exhibits notable improvements across all metrics compared to the F-SMRP. The ${\eta }_{I,OF-SMRP}$ reaches 33.2 %, showing a significant increase of 11 %. Also, ${\dot{W}}_e$ is 34.81 MW, showcasing an increase of 2.11 MW. Similarly, the ${\eta }_{\mathrm{II},OF-SMRP}$ improves to 68.1 %, representing a 3.97 % gain. Despite a moderate rise in ${\dot{C}}_{\mathrm{tot},OF-SMRP}^{I\&O\&M}$ to $352.88/hour (an increase of $21/hour), the ${\dot{C}}_{P,OF-SMRP}$ significantly decreases to $6656.9/hour, representing a reduction of $465.1/hour. Environmental analysis reveals that F-SMRP saves 85.27 million cubic meters of natural gas annually (valued at $8.57 million) and reduces emissions of 166 kilotons of greenhouse gases, leading to external cost savings of $37.88 million and $8 million in carbon tax savings annually.