Use of the Blahutovice (North Moravia) nuclear power plant for district heating of the Ostrava region

Project variants were detailed for supplying heat from the Blahutovice nuclear power plant to the Ostrava region, Czechoslovakia. This area is characterized by a thermal input of around 3,600 MW with an annual heat consumption of 36,000 TU. Approximately 50% power and 75% consumption should be provided by the nuclear power plant. Project variants design differed by the number and routes of the supply pipes, the choice of territorial units, the operation mode of the nuclear power plant with regard to the amount of heat supply, and by the cooperation between the nuclear power plant and the local fossil fuel burning sources. The economically most beneficial project design proceeds from the series-parallel cooperation between the nuclear power plant and the local sources. This variant also puts lowest demands on fossil sources which is ecologically favourable. According to this project the nuclear power plant supplies heat to the whole area through which the heat supply pipe passes, i.e., including localities which are closest to and most affected by the nuclear power plant. Briefly discussed are factors which were taken into consideration, namely: the size of the integrated district heating system, cooperation of fossil burning sources with the nuclear source within the system, supply of heat during refuelling in the nuclear power plant, optimization of the diameter of the heat supply pipes and the effect of the heat supply pipes operating reliability. (Z.M.). 1 fig