Application of Advanced Low Temperature Desalination Systems to Support Nuclear Power Plants and Non-Electric Applications

Future nuclear power plants (NPPs) could be made more economical through cogeneration and waste heat recovery, as well as more accident proof through the introduction of low temperature (i.e. 40–50°C in some cases requiring a temperature gradient of 10°C) on-site desalination systems. Countries embarking on nuclear power could exploit the prospects of cogeneration and the use of waste heat from an NPP to increase the plant’s overall efficiency and achieve better energy utilization. Simultaneously, NPPs’ vulnerability to water shortage (e.g. in case of an accident or terrorist attacks) can be further reduced through the introduction of advanced technologies for low temperature desalination, specifically the distillation processes with utilization of waste heat or any other innovative means which allow for the production of necessary quantities of fresh water to meet on-site NPP requirements and make the plant more secure against external threats. The CRP has been planned on the basis of extensive feedback from many participants in Technical Meetings on non-electric applications and desalination technologies, and was further recommended by the Technical Working Group on Nuclear Desalination. It will be conducted by the Nuclear Power Technology Development Section within the IAEA Department of Nuclear Energy.