Research Reports
A feasibility study on the commercial utilization of thermal effluent of nuclear power plants
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AuthorPark, Hyuntae
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Publication Date2005.07.01
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Original
Seawater is used as thermal effluent of nuclear power plants to cool off nuclear reactors. The temperature of thermal effluent is 7℃ higher than normal seawater. If thermal effluent of nuclear power plants is used to heat greenhouses, farmers might stabilize farm management thanks to production cost reduction.
This study was conducted to examine the economic benefits of using thermal effluent as heating source of greenhouses. It also focuses on looking for economic efficiency and profitability of using thermal effluent by facility type, product and subsidy condition in 4 regions near nuclear power plants.
With the current profit level of glasshouse farming, farmers can't recover their invested capital. If 50% subsidy for production facility and 100% subsidy for pipe facility are provided, and 5% interest rate is applied, farmers can recover their invested capital. In case of rigid-panel house farming, 50% subsidy for production and pipe facilities is necessary to for farmers to recover their invested capital.
If economic efficiency is considered only, farmer's investment in relevant facilities might take place only in a very limited fashion. However, this is an attempt to reduce heating costs in the face of high oil prices. Before applying this measure to wider areas, it is necessary to launch a pilot project in a suitable region near nuclear power plant.
Researchers: Hyun-Tae Park, Chang-Yong Kang, Jong-Yeol Yun
E-mail Address: htpark@krei.re.kr
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