Options for Coal-to-Nuclear Conversion with a Small Modular PWR

One of the most promising concepts for replacing the conventional power plants in the clean energy transition is the conversion of Coal-Fired Power Plants (CPP) to Nuclear Power Plants (NPP) or Hybrid Power Plants (HPP). This approach has the advantage that it not only replaces CPPs with clean energy sources but also could take their role in the energy system compared to the option of replacing with Renewable Power Plants. The conversion of CPPs into NPPs (C2N) could be done in different ways: repowering, retrofitting, revamping or replacement. The focus of this work is to explore and evaluate different variants for combining pressurized water small modular reactor (SMR) with a subcritical steam turbine of CPP, resulting in C2N or different options of CPP conversion into HPPs. The difficulties arise from the fact that the turbine is designed with high live steam parameters and the SMR produces slightly superheated steam with low temperature and pressure. Also, the temperature and pressure of the feed water for the steam generator in SMR and in a CPP are very different which in the best case scenario leads to additional losses. Despite the obstacles, successful combinations are achieved, but which of them would be the most economically feasible depends on the specific conditions of the CPP and the regulations in the country, in which it is located.