THE CALOGENA SMR CONCEPT
Calogena is offering a 30 thermal MW water-cooled SMR (Small Modular Reactor), specifically designed to decarbonize district heating.
Its simple and compact design, the volume of the core is less than one cubic meter, means that systems and components can be factory-assembled and then transported to the installation site, making it shorter and less expensive to build than large power reactors.
The main benefit of Calogena is the significant reduction in CO2 emissions when producing heat for the networks with a negligeable land use.
A CARBON-FREE HEATING SOLUTION
Today’s gas-fired boilers emit just over 220 grams of CO2 per kWh, while coal-fired power stations emit around twice as much. These means of heat production also emit other pollutants in addition to greenhouse gases (NOx, dust, etc.), which have harmful effects on human health and the environment.
In view of the Life Cycle Studies carried out by Ademe for large reactors (whose carbon footprint is around 6g of CO2 per kWh of electricity, and three times less per kWh of heat), Calogena’s carbon dioxide emissions will be negligible and the module will not release any other pollutants into the atmosphere.
THE CALOGENA DESIGN : SAFE, SIMPLE AND ROBUST
The water-cooled Calogena reactor is based on technologies that have been mastered and proven for several decades. Its design is derived from the pool-type research reactors that have been in service around the world for decades.
Operating at low pressure (around 5 bar, i.e. less than the pressure of a domestic water heater) and low temperature (around 100 °C), the direct use of heat and the very limited number of auxiliary systems make the concept intrinsically simpler and safer than any reactor currently in operation or planned. By way of comparison, the large power reactors currently in service operate at a pressure of 155 bar and a water temperature of over 300 °C.
The fuel most commonly used by the French nuclear industry is “rod” fuel, a tried and tested solution.
AN INDUSTRIALLY AVAILABLE FUEL
Calogena has completed the developments that will enable it to choose the fuel most commonly used by the French nuclear industry: a “rod” type fuel, a tried and tested solution. This choice positions Calogena as one of the most mature projects in technological and industrial terms.
The Calogena nuclear power plant will use a shortened version of the rod-type fuel used in most of the world’s power reactors and in all of France’s nuclear power plants. Using 3.4% low-enriched uranium pellets and the same structural elements, the Calogena fuel will measure around one metre in length, compared with around four metres for the fuel used in large power plants. Its life cycle is part of an operational and industrially proven production chain.
30 MW
thermal power
20 000
households supplied
with a Calogena module
2030
start of production
Calogena believes it will be in a position to deploy its solutions from 2030 for local authorities wishing to build the city of tomorrow.