Coal gasification system using nuclear heat for ammonia production

Utilization of nuclear energy is an effective way of solving the global war ming resulting from CO2 emissions. Thermal energy accounts for more than tw o thirds of total energy utilization at present and therefore it is signifi cant to extend the utilization of nuclear heat for the effective reduction of CO2 emissions in the world. This paper describes a coal gasification sys tem using HTGR nuclear heat in an ammonia production plant in terms of indu strial utilization of the nuclear heat. The system uses the nuclear heat di rectly in addition to generating electricity. A steam reforming method usin g a two-stage coal gasifier is employed: it improves the heat utilization e fficiency of the secondary helium gas from the: HTGR. Finally, the paper cl arifies that the nuclear gasification system can reduce CO2 emissions by ab out five hundred thousand tons per year from that of a conventional system using fossil fuel. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights r eserved.