An engine lubricant manufacturing operation could benefit from nuclear process heat.
Process Heat
The high temperature gas-cooled reactor can provide process heat for industrial processes at temperatures from 700 to 950°C. The higher temperatures of this reactor open the door for industrial processing opportunities currently unattainable using the lower temperature of light water technology. Today, industry depends on burning fossil fuels to provide the majority of its processing heat.
There are four energy challenges facing U.S. manufacturers competing in a global economy: the rising costs for premium fuels such as oil and natural gas, dependence on foreign sources for these premium fuels, concerns about carbon dioxide emissions, and the use of fossil fuels for hydrogen production. A high temperature gas-cooled reactor can meet these challenges by providing process heat for hydrogen production and other industrial manufacturing. Nuclear power can substantially reduce or eliminate the carbon dioxide emissions, and limits the use of fossil fuels in many production processes.
For example, production of liquid fuels, like gasoline, requires large quantities of process heat. The heat to refine the fuel is produced by burning fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide emissions can be substantially reduced when nuclear process heat is used for manufacturing fuel.
Companies with commercial interest in this type of nuclear process heat application include: major oil companies, refineries, existing bulk hydrogen producers and distributors, processing facilities, gas companies, electric utilities, and the hydrogen transportation industry (fuel cell).