Optimal load following operation pattern for korean nuclear power plants

Abstract

The optimal load following operation pattern is analyzed for nuclear power plants in Korea. The optimal load following operation pattern is obtained by minimizing the excess electricity from planned nuclear power program compared to the minimum electric load in future. The optimal load following patterns are obtained by linear programming in which the object is to minimize difference between the electric power generation by nuclear power plants and the electric demand. The daily load following operation for nuclear plants must be commenced at about 2006. The patterns in Sunday show rampings at the middle of the night and day-time as compared with one ramping in weekdays. Also, these patterns are similar to those in France. The patterns in autumn are similar to those in spring because of the similar load pattern. The detail patterns are as follows;(weekday:50\%-100\%-50\%, Sunday:50\%-100\%-50\%-100\%-50\%) 1) Winter weekday:7-1-15-1, Sunday:8-1-4-1-4-1-4-1 2) Spring weekday:5-1-17-1, Sunday:6-1-4-1-6-1-4-1 3) Autumn weekday:5-1-17-1, Sunday:7-1-4-1-4-1-5-1 Economic validation for load following is done by the cost comparison on availability of both nuclear and coal-fired plant. The availability factor of nuclear plant is above 65\% which is the break-even point of nuclear plant against coal-fired plant. The electric expansion planning should be done with the consideration of load following operation of nuclear plants, by means of comparative analysis of electric power generation costs for different sources of electricity and economy of availability.