Efficiency of Using the Auxiliary Boiler for Peak Power Generation by a Steam Turbine of NPP

The article presents the technique of an estimation of efficiency of use of potential heat output of an auxiliary boiler (AB) to improve electric capacity and manoeuvrability of a steam turbine unit of a power unit of a nuclear power plant (NPP) equipped with a water-cooled water-moderated power reactor (WWER). An analysis of the technical characteristics of the AB of Balakovo NPP (of Saratov oblast) was carried out and hydrocarbon deposits near the NPP were determined. It is shown that in WWER nuclear power plants in Russia, auxiliary boilers are mainly used only until the normal operation after start-up whereas auxiliary boiler equipment is maintained in cold standby mode and does not participate in the generation process at power plants. The results of research aimed to improve the systems of regulation and power management of power units; general principles of increasing the efficiency of production, transmission and distribution of electric energy, as well as the issues of attracting the potential of energy technology sources of industrial enterprises to provide load schedules have been analyzed. The possibility of using the power complex NPP and the AB as a single object of regulation is substantiated. The authors’ priority scheme-parametric developments on the possibility of using the thermal power of the auxiliary boilers to increase the power of the steam turbine of a nuclear power plant unit equipped with WWER reactors unit during peak periods, as well as the enthalpy balance method for calculating heat flows, were applied. The surface area of the additional heater of the regeneration “deaerator – high pressure heaters” system and its cost were calculated. On the basis of calculations, it was shown that the additional power that can be obtained in the steam turbine of the NPP with a capacity of 1200 MW due to the use of heat of the modernized auxiliary boiler in the additional heat exchanger is 40.5 MW. The additional costs for the implementation of the heat recovery scheme of the auxiliary boiler at different prices for gas fuel and the resulting system effect were estimated in an enlarged way. Calculations have shown the acceptability of the payback period of the proposed modernization.