Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar Results of Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer The Boeing Company and John Sheffield, ORNL and JIEE - UT William Brown, James Hilley, Thomas Shields, Duke Engr & Services Gary Garret, Dennis McCloud, TVA Joan Ogden, Princeton Univ US/Japan Workshop on Fusion Power Plant Studies March 2000

Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar Purpose of Study This study is designed to evaluate effects on electrical utility system hardware, operations, and system reliability of incorporating large generation units (≥ 3 GWe). Scope of Study What are the consequences of deploying large, single- unit power plants? Would the use of co-generation, e.g., hydrogen, improve the prospects of deployment of large plants?

Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar Impact Of Large Electrical Generating Plants (> 1.5 GWe) If size exceeds maximum plant size on Utility system: Additional spinning and operational reserves are needed. Additional siting costs may be incurred to cover increased substation and transmission requirements. Utility production costs may increase due to production dispatch and operating modes of other generating plants. Additional purchased power may be required during scheduled and unscheduled downtimes.

Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar Co-generation of Hydrogen and Electricity Can Help Lessen Utility Impact Benefit: Generate hydrogen during the night when demand (and POE) is low and electricity when demand (and POE) is high

Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar Co-Generation Considerations Fusion power plant economics favors full power operation Co-generation lessens impact on electrical grid and allow load following Fusion plant can supply high or low temperature process heat to electrolyzers

Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar Study Baseline Assumptions ARIES-AT was chosen as power plant to supply electricity and process heat Hydrogen would be produced with high temperature electrolysis (endothermic and exothermic) or conventional alkaline electrolyzers

Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar Fusion Plant Design Basis Use ARIES-AT design (evolving from ARIES-RS) Improve plasma physics modeling of Reversed Shear regime Use SiC first wall and blanket structural material and LiPb/He heat transfer media to enable exit temperatures of °C Employ IHX and closed cycle helium gas turbine to yield thermal efficiencies of 55% to 60% Increase power core lifetime, reliability, and maintainability to improve availability from 76% to 85+% Employ low cost manufacturing techniques Raise ARIES-AT plant capacity to GW

Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar COE Scaling for Advanced Tokamaks

Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar System Elements

Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar Low temperature process heat (150°C) is extracted after Brayton turbine. Less energy is available in recuperator. Hence, increasing hydrogen production decreases system efficiency

Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar As More Thermal Power Is Used In Electrolyzer, Fusion Plant Efficiency Decreases

Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar Feasibility Issues for Hydrogen Production Competition is pushing the price of hydrogen down –Steam reforming of natural gas ~ $5/GJ –Gasification of hydrocarbon fuels ~ $8/GJ –Comparison to $1/gal gasoline~ $8/GJ Electrolyzer Plant Equipment adds ~ $3/GJ to the price of H 2 The remainder of the cost of hydrogen (COH) is directly proportional to the input COE As electrical demand grows and capacity is reduced, there will be no cheap off-peak electricity (10 to 30 mills/kWh) Fusion COE would have to be in the range of 30 mills /kWh to competitively produce hydrogen in today’s market If price of gasoline is $2/gal, hydrogen production with fusion would be competitive with COE values around 60 mills/kWh

Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar Assessment Options and Trades Dedicated Hydrogen Plant –Plant size 1/2 Electricity (Peak) + 1/2 Hydrogen (Off-Peak) –Plant size –Peak electricity price –Electrolyzer cost –Electrolyzer efficiency –Conventional vs. HTE Off- Peak and On-Peak –Power split during On-Peak Percent Percent Percent 0:0006:0012:0018:00 24:00 75 Time of Day H 2 Production Electricity Production Dedicated Hydrogen Production Hydrogen Off-Peak, Electricity On-Peak Hydrogen Off-Peak, Hydrogen + Electricity On-Peak H 2 Production H 2 Electricity Production

Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar HTE vs. Conventional Electrolysis Dedicated Hydrogen Production

Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar COH, Dedicated Production Hi T Electrolyzer ARIES-AT Conv. Electrol. $300/kW ARIES-AT Conv. Electrol. $600/kW ARIES-AT Cost of Hydrogen Production ($/GJ) Fusion Power Plant Size (MWe)

Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar Comparison of Electrolysis Types and Costs (50-50 H 2 /Electricity, On-Peak Price is 6 mills/kWh) Cost of H 2 from Off-peak Fusion Power ARIES-AT On-Peak Power Cost is 6 cents/kWh, f= Fusion Power Plant Size (MW) Cost of Hydrogen ($/GJ) f=.5, High Temp. Electrolysis f=.5, Conventional Electrolysis, $600/kWH 2 f=.5, Conventional Electrolysis, $300/kWH 2

Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar Comparison of On-Peak Electricity Price (50-50 H 2 /Electricity, Electrolyzer Cost $300/kWH 2 ) Cost of Electrolytic Hydrogen Production from Off-Peak Fusion Power: Conventional Electrolysis $300/kWH 2, ARIES-AT Pon= 5 cents/kWh Pon=6 cents/kWh Pon=7 cents/kWh Pon=8cents/kWh Price of On-Peak Electricity Cost of Hydrogen Production ($/GJ) Fusion Power Plant Size (MWe)

Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar Variable On-Peak Electricity Production (On-Peak Price 6 mills/kWh, Electrolyzer Cost $300/kWH 2 ) H 2 Production Cost for Various Operating Strategies: Dedicated H2 Production; 50% On-peak and 100% Off-peak H 2 production; 25% On-Peak and 100% Off-peak H 2 ; Off-peak H2 Production Only ARIES-AT, On-Peak Power Cost 6 cents/kWh, Conv. Electrolyzer $300/kWH Dedicated H2 production 50% On Peak H2 Production 25% On Peak H2 Production Off-peak H2 Production (Conv. Electrolysis=$300/kWH2) Cost of Hydrogen Production ($/GJ) Fusion Power Plant Size (MWe)

Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar COH Comparison with Other Sources

Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar Study Conclusions Main H 2 competitors are Biomass and Fossil (coal or NG) gasification Must use large fusion plants for economy of scale Fusion plants must be affordable with high availability COH is lower if subsidized by peak electricity –Production COE must be lower than peak! It may be possible for hydrogen from off-peak fusion power to compete with other low or zero CO 2 options, but stringent cost and performance goals must be met and peak power must be valuable.

Large Fusion Power Plant Study L. M. Waganer, 18 Mar Some Comparative Data To Visualize Hydrogen Production and Water Usage Food for thought: This production rate would supply enough hydrogen fuel for 20% of the cars in the LA basin if equipped with fuel cells. (Ref. J. Ogden) (~ 1.3 million cars)