Use of nuclear reactors for centralized heat-supply and district heating

Economic compatibility of centralized district heating systems (CDHS) based on proved nuclear reactor types or using organic fuel has been investigated with a reference to the USSR. Both nuclear dual-purpose power plants (NDP) and nuclear boilers (NB) are considered. In terms of the fuel-to-capital cost ratios a condition of the compatibility for districts with a different density of heat consumers has been obtained. The compatibility of the NDPs and NBs depends immensely on reactor unit power, capacity factor, location with respect to heat consumers and initial steam parameters of the systems. It is concluded that the present-day NDPs and NBs can be compatitive under certain conditions even at 20-50 Gcal/h thermal load and 10-25 MW (th.) reactor rates