Role of the HTGR in meeting US energy needs

The High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTGR) is an advanced, high efficiency reactor system which can play a vital role in meeting the future energy needs of the nation by contributing not only to the generation of electric power, but also to the industrial energy sector, traditionally served by fossil fuels. Most energy-intensive industrial processes require considerable process steam and electric power. The cogenerating HTGR steam cycle system, utilizing a core outlet temperature of 7500C or less, is well suited to perform this service. The higher-temperature process heat HTGR, with core outlet temperatures ranging from 8500C to 9500C, can be coupled to a steam-methane reformer and steam generator in series to produce synthesis gas. This reforming HTGR system may be coupled to a thermochemical pipeline to transmit chemical energy via the synthesis gas. The higher-temperature, process heat version of the HTGR is also suitable for additional process and synfuel applications. The high-grade heat can be utilized to produce hydrogen and synthetic fuel, using a variety of carbon sources. It can also serve as the heat source for thermochemical watersplitting processes to produce hydrogen without carbon