Work

Comparative Thermodynamic and Economic Analyses of Nuclear Power Plants with HTGRs and SMRs

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The article presents a comparative thermodynamic and economic analysis of nuclear power plants using high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) and small modular pressurized water reactors (SMRs). HTGRs, with their ability to achieve steam temperatures exceeding 650 °C, offer significantly higher electricity generation efficiency (approximately 52%) compared to SMRs and traditional PWRs, which achieve around 32%. The study underscores the importance of economic efficiency in investment decisions, noting that while SMRs are still in the conceptual phase, their future construction is uncertain, with realistic deployment expected by the late 2030s or early 2040s. The analysis highlights the superior thermodynamic performance of HTGRs due to their hierarchical dual-cycle gas–steam technology, compared to the single-cycle Clausius–Rankine process used in SMRs and PWRs. The paper contributes new insights into the comparative advantages and challenges of these nuclear technologies, particularly emphasizing the advanced safety features of HTGRs and the inherent design challenges associated with scaling down PWR technology for SMRs.

Source: Energies

DOI: 10.3390/en19081946

Authors: Ryszard Bartnik, Anna Hnydiuk-Stefan, Waldemar Skomudek

Institutions: Opole University of Technology, AGH University of Krakow

Language: English

Topic: Nuclear reactor physics and engineering

Subfield: Aerospace Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137