Why Do Some Nuclear Power Plants Not Have Cooling Towers?

 

 

 

I.The Cooling Method Determines the Necessity of Cooling Towers

 

The core cooling requirement of a nuclear power plant is to discharge the waste heat of exhaust steam from steam turbines. Cooling systems are classified into three types: once-through cooling, closed-loop recirculating cooling, and air cooling. Cooling towers are only used in closed-loop recirculating cooling systems.

 

 

 

2.Closed-loop recirculating cooling (cooling towers required)

 

Inland nuclear power plants, constrained by limited water resources, adopt the circulating water + cooling tower mode. Circulating water absorbs heat in condensers and is then pumped to cooling towers for heat dissipation and temperature reduction through evaporation, before flowing back for reuse, thus avoiding water waste. Inland nuclear power projects (e.g., some inland nuclear power plants in Europe and the United States) must be equipped with cooling towers as a standard configuration.

 

3.Air cooling system (no traditional cooling towers required)

 

Some power stations in arid regions adopt direct or indirect air cooling, where heat dissipation is achieved through direct or indirect contact between air and heat exchange equipment. This method involves no evaporation loss and does not require cooling towers, but it has lower heat exchange efficiency and necessitates larger heat exchange areas and higher fan energy consumption.

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II. Key Impact of Geographical and Water Source Conditions

 

1.Advantages of coastal/river-adjacent locations

 

Abundant seawater and river water can meet the water intake and discharge requirements of once-through cooling, eliminating the need for cooling towers. At present, all operational nuclear power plants in China are located along the coast, so cooling towers are generally not installed.

 

2.Constraints of inland/water-scarce areas

 

Inland regions face tight water supply. Once-through cooling is restricted by environmental protection regulations and water volume limitations, making closed-loop recirculating cooling a mandatory choice, and cooling towers thus become a standard component. For example, inland nuclear power plants in the United States and France are all equipped with large hyperboloid cooling towers.

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III. Differences in Reactor Types and Coolants

 

Cooling system designs vary across different reactor types, and some reactor types inherently do not require traditional cooling towers.

 

Reactor Type	Coolant	Cooling Characteristics	Cooling Tower Requirement
Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR)	High-pressure water	Primary and secondary loops are separated; the secondary loop requires cooling of exhaust steam	Not required for coastal plants using once-through cooling; required for inland plants using closed-loop cooling
Boiling Water Reactor (BWR)	Water	The coolant directly boils to generate steam; exhaust steam needs to be condensed	Not required for coastal plants using once-through cooling; required for inland plants using closed-loop cooling
Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor	Liquid sodium	Liquid metal offers high heat exchange efficiency; no evaporative cooling required	Generally no traditional cooling towers required
High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor	Helium	Gas cooling with heat dissipation through heat exchangers	No traditional cooling towers required
Thorium-based Molten Salt Reactor	Molten salt	Molten salt cooling; the system design does not require water evaporation for heat dissipation	No traditional cooling towers required

 

 

 

 

IV.Trade-off Between Environmental Protection and Economic Factors

 

1.Environmental compliance

Once-through cooling must meet environmental standards regarding discharge water temperature and thermal pollution. Coastal areas have large water body capacities, making it easy to meet compliance requirements. Inland closed-loop recirculating cooling controls heat discharge through cooling towers to comply with environmental regulations.

 

 

2.Economics

Once-through cooling features low capital construction costs and operational expenses but is subject to water source constraints. Closed-loop recirculating cooling requires the construction of cooling towers, which involves high capital investment but is suitable for water-scarce areas. Air cooling systems are water-saving but consume high fan energy, leading to higher long-term operational costs.

                                                

Special Scenarios and Design Optimization

 

1.Nuclear power installations (ships/submarines)

Due to limited space, compact cooling systems (e.g., seawater once-through cooling combined with high-efficiency heat exchangers) are adopted, with no cooling towers installed.

 

2.Small Modular Reactors (SMR)

Some designs adopt integrated cooling or air cooling, simplifying the system and eliminating the need for large cooling towers.

 

In conclusion, whether a nuclear power plant is equipped with cooling towers is a comprehensive decision based on cooling methods, geographical conditions, reactor design, and economic factors. Coastal once-through cooling systems, special reactor types (e.g., sodium-cooled fast reactors, high-temperature gas-cooled reactors), and air cooling systems do not require traditional cooling towers, while inland closed-loop recirculating cooling systems must be equipped with cooling towers. With the expansion of nuclear power to inland and water-scarce areas, the application of cooling towers will become more widespread. Meanwhile, air cooling technologies and new reactor types are also driving the diversification of cooling system development.