ARPA-E Grant for Nuclear Heat Integration and Modular Process Intensification in Refineries

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. This RFI is not accepting applications for financial assistance. The purpose of this RFI is solely to solicit input for ARPA-E consideration to inform the possible formulation of future programs.

Request for Information (RFI) on Nuclear Heat for Modular Process Intensification in Refineries and Petrochemical Plants

The purpose of this RFI is to solicit input for a potential future ARPA-E program focused on improving the performance and efficiency of unit operations in refining and petrochemical plants by leveraging heat input from nuclear heat transfer fluids rather than from combustion. ARPA-E seeks information regarding transformative and implementable technologies to facilitate this integration. ARPA-E previously issued an RFI on Nuclear Hybrid and Non-Electricity Energy Systems, DE-FOA-0003011, in February 2023. Questions in this RFI reflect the refined scope of the potential program.

ARPA-E has identified three areas of interest for using nuclear energy to decarbonize process heating demands in refineries and petrochemical plants:

1. Development of process-intensified reactors for endothermic processes;
2. Novel heat transfer and heat augmentation technologies; and
3. Process dynamics of incorporating a traditionally firm (nuclear) heat source with volatile demands.

Coupling nuclear with oil and gas operations will require both technical and commercial innovation in areas such as process co-design and co-optimization, sensors, controls, and thermal buffering interface-component development while meeting reliability, availability, and durability metrics cost effectively.

This RFI aims to gather information from interested and relevant stakeholders about opportunities and challenges in the technical, technology-to-market, and safety aspects of coupling of nuclear heat and/or power to industrial processes beyond pure power and/or steam production. The questions posed in the section below are based on the following program-level assumptions:

• Nuclear heat or combined heat and power (CHP) is a viable route to decarbonizing industrial processes;
• Regulatory approvals can be obtained on a predictable basis;
• The associated nuclear fuel cycle (including waste processing and geologic disposal) can be reliably and economically defined and implemented; and
• Warranty protection and insurability can be established.

To view the RFI in its entirety please visit https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov.

Request for Information (RFI) on Nuclear Heat for Modular Process Intensification in Refineries and Petrochemical Plants

The purpose of this RFI is to solicit input for a potential future ARPA-E program focused on improving the performance and efficiency of unit operations in refining and petrochemical plants by leveraging heat input from nuclear heat transfer fluids rather than from combustion. ARPA-E seeks information regarding transformative and implementable technologies to facilitate this integration. ARPA-E previously issued an RFI on Nuclear Hybrid and Non-Electricity Energy Systems, DE-FOA-0003011, in February 2023. Questions in this RFI reflect the refined scope of the potential program.

ARPA-E has identified three areas of interest for using nuclear energy to decarbonize process heating demands in refineries and petrochemical plants:

1. Development of process-intensified reactors for endothermic processes;
2. Novel heat transfer and heat augmentation technologies; and
3. Process dynamics of incorporating a traditionally firm (nuclear) heat source with volatile demands.

Coupling nuclear with oil and gas operations will require both technical and commercial innovation in areas such as process co-design and co-optimization, sensors, controls, and thermal buffering interface-component development while meeting reliability, availability, and durability metrics cost effectively.

This RFI aims to gather information from interested and relevant stakeholders about opportunities and challenges in the technical, technology-to-market, and safety aspects of coupling of nuclear heat and/or power to industrial processes beyond pure power and/or steam production. The questions posed in the section below are based on the following program-level assumptions:

• Nuclear heat or combined heat and power (CHP) is a viable route to decarbonizing industrial processes;
• Regulatory approvals can be obtained on a predictable basis;
• The associated nuclear fuel cycle (including waste processing and geologic disposal) can be reliably and economically defined and implemented; and
• Warranty protection and insurability can be established.

To view the RFI in its entirety please visit https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov.