核电将至，SMR正在寻找大型数据中心伙伴？
Are nuclear powered data centers on the horizon?
March 30, 2023 Comment
译 者 说
当下小型模块化核电反应堆SMR处于产业活跃期，越来越多的可商用化的方案被研究出来并获得许可，开始逐步商业化实施。另一方面，随着AI等算力技术的高速发展，作为基础设施的数据中心产业需求旺盛，全球新建数据中心也在不断往超大规模发展。200MWe以上电力容量需求的数据中心已经与小型模块化核电反应堆SMR的供电容量相匹配了。
核电具有低碳、稳定、调节便利、维护量少等优势，在通过技术降低核反应外界环境要求难度（温度和气压）和提高使用安全性的前提之下，很可能成为新建超大规模数据中心的能源选择。虽然这一切在目前的2023年还未形成真实的方案，但在不远的未来（2028年）很可能会变成现实。
小型模块化核反应堆制造商在寻找大型数据中心合作伙伴？
Small modular reactor maker seeks large data center partner?
在全球范围内，小型模块化反应堆（SMR）领域的实践正在加快步伐。政府、监管机构、原子机构和主管部门、全球电力制造商、研究机构和新的市场进入者都忙得如火如荼。那么对数据中心行业来说，小型模块化反应堆（SMR）适用于这个行业吗？它能改变数据中心的供电方式吗？
Across the globe, activity in the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) space is gathering pace. Governments, regulators, atomic agencies and authorities, global power manufacturers, research bodies and new market entrants are busy. For the data center industry, the question is whether SMRs are applicable to the sector? Could they change how data centers are powered?
让我们一起研究一下小型核反应度的输出功率范围和正在开发的不同类型、不同技术路线的方案是否满足数据中心领域的应用需求，我们会发现更多有价值的信息。
A look at the output ranges and the different models under development and the different nuclear technologies being proposed as suitable for the sector will tell us more.
把核能当作一个可能的选项
Taking the nuclear option
数据中心需要一种稳定的、无温室气体排放的能源供给方式，核能可能是答案吗？
Data centers need a steady source of power, with no greenhouse emissions. Could nuclear power be the answer?
谈到小型模块化反应堆SMR，我们首先要考虑的是它的输出功率。国际原子能机构(IAEA)将“小”定义为300MWe以下，将“中等”定义为700MWe以下。
The first thing to consider about an SMR is its power output. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) defines 'small' as under 300 MWe, and up to about 700 MWe as 'medium.'
所以，大型数据中心电力需求规模属于SMR市场的最小功率段末尾。
So, a large data center deployment is at the small end of the SMR market.
当然，核反应堆开发商也开发更小的微型模块反应堆。不过，现在大部分实际落地的规格、开发许可和投资活动都集中在SMR规模段。
There are also developments in the micro modular reactor category. However, most of the recent activity in terms of regulations, licenses and investments has been in the SMR category.
正在开发和即将建成的SMRs会告诉我们这样一个故事
SMRs under development and being built tell a story
Rolls Royce宣传他们公司的SMR能提供470MWe的电力。该公司表示，一座单体的Rolls-Royce公司的SMR电站占地大约两个足球场大小，可为大约100万户家庭提供电力，支持发电并网和一定范围的离网清洁能源解决方案。
Rolls Royce says its SMR will generate 470MWe. It says a single Rolls-Royce SMR power station will occupy a space the size of two soccer pitches and power approximately one million homes, supporting on-grid electricity and a range of off-grid clean energy solutions.
2023年1月，GE Hitachi宣布他们签署了一份BWRX-300 (一款300MWe容量的水冷SMR)产品的商业合同。据该公司称，这是北美地区第一份电网级别的SMR商业合同。
In January 2023, GE Hitachi announced a contract for its BWRX-300 – a 300MWe water-cooled SMR. According to the company, this is the first commercial contract for a grid-scale SMR in North America.
一家名为Seaborg的丹麦装备制造商正计划建设一种用驳船拖动的浮动SMR电站，可以容纳4x200MWe规模的反应堆。该公司正在计划用现有的造船厂建设为反应堆制造这样的驳船。
A Danish outfit called Seaborg is planning floating SMRs using barges that can accommodate 4x 200MWe reactors. It plans to use existing shipyards in which to create a production line for the barges.
在英国，核能监管办公室正在评估几家公司提交的技术许可申请。其中包括美国Holtec公司，该公司提交了其与日本Hyundai Engineering和韩国Hyundai Engineering合作开发的160MWe功率等级的压水反应堆产品SMR-160。
In the UK, the Office of Nuclear Regulation is assessing submissions from several firms for the licensing of their technologies. These include US-based Holtec, which submitted its 160MWe pressurized water reactor SMR-160 design developed in collaboration with Mitsubishi Electric of Japan and Hyundai Engineering and Construction of South Korea.
核反应堆和核燃料设计工程公司X-energy希望在英国部署高温气体反应堆，称其能在提供电力的同时解决工业脱碳问题。该公司称：“他们的产品Xe-100可以提供可靠的“持续在线”的电力供给，同时还能在几分钟内安全地增加或降低功率水平，以响应多变的需求或供应“。
X-Energy, a nuclear reactor and fuel design engineering company, wants to deploy its high-temperature gas reactor in the UK, saying it wants to tackle industrial decarbonization as well as electricity generation. “The Xe-100 can deliver reliable ‘always-on’ electricity,” it says, “as well as increase or decrease power levels safely within minutes to respond to varying demand or supply.”
英国原子能公司(UK Atomics)是丹麦一家初创企业—是哥本哈根原子能公司(Copenhagen Atomics)的子公司，后者正在开发一种集装箱式钍熔盐反应堆。该公司称其技术“进展迅速，2023年将在英国测试首个非放射性全尺寸反应堆原型。” 并预计于2028年投入使用。
UK Atomics is a subsidiary of Danish start-up Copenhagen Atomics, which is developing a containerized thorium molten salt reactor. It says its technology is “progressing swiftly with the first non-radioactive full-size reactor prototype to be tested in the UK in 2023.” The company expects deployment by 2028.
基于未来的大型数据中心的发展需求，对于寻求清洁、可靠、低碳的电力供应的需求方来说，上述这些系统方案都有可能在项目中被应用。
For future large data center developments, anyone seeking a clean, reliable, low-carbon producing power generation supply, these systems could be applicable.
目前SMRs的核反应方案选择
Current options to fuel SMRs
世界核能协会(WNA)表示，目前主流的SMR共有四种技术方案可供选择：“轻水反应堆、快中子反应堆、石墨慢化高温反应堆和多种熔盐反应堆(MSRs)。”
The World Nuclear Association (WNA) says there are four main SMR technology options being pursued; “light water reactors, fast neutron reactors, graphite-moderated high-temperature reactors and various kinds of molten salt reactors (MSRs).”
WNA称：“轻水反应堆是由普通水调和冷却的，技术风险最低，与目前大多数运行的动力反应堆和海军反应堆相似。”
WNA says: ‘Light Water Reactors are moderated and cooled by ordinary water and have the lowest technological risk, being similar to most operating power and naval reactors today.’’
“快中子反应堆(FNR)比轻水反应堆更小、更简单，燃料性能更好，换料间隔时间更长(最长可达20年)，但这项技术需要定制一个全新的安全方案。”
“Fast neutron reactors (FNR) are smaller and simpler than light water types, they have better fuel performance and can have a longer refuelling interval (up to 20 years), but a new safety case needs to be made for them.”
"高温气体冷却反应堆使用石墨作为慢化剂(快中子型除外)，氦气、二氧化碳或氮气可以作为一次冷却剂。"
“High-temperature gas-cooled reactors use graphite as a moderator (unless fast neutron type) and either helium, carbon dioxide or nitrogen as primary coolant.”
在2022和2023年，我们看到许多200MWe规模的大型数据中心项目正在建设，暂时没有宣称有计划使用核电作为主要电源的，但也许这种情况很快就会发生改变。
2022 and 2023 saw a number of large data center development projects in the 200MWe range, None has announced plans to use nuclear power as a primary power source. But things could change quickly.
"熔盐反应堆主要使用熔氟盐作为低压一次冷却剂。氟化锂-铍和氟化锂盐在不加压的情况下可保持液体状态直到1400°C，这与需要315°C和150个大气压运行条件的PWR形成了鲜明对比。快速光谱型MSRs则使用氯化盐作为冷却剂。在大多数设计中，核燃料一般被溶解在一次冷却剂中，但也有少数设计会采用球形燃料堆技术。”
“Molten salt reactors mostly use molten fluoride salts as primary coolant, at low pressure. Lithium-beryllium fluoride and lithium fluoride salts remain liquid without pressurization up to 1400°C, in marked contrast to a PWR which operates at about 315°C under 150 atmospheres pressure. Fast-spectrum MSRs use chloride salt coolant. In most designs, the fuel is dissolved in the primary coolant, but in some, the fuel is a pebble bed.”
WNA还表示，除发电应用以外，现在很多小型反应堆也在被设计应用于工业制热场景。
WNA also states many small reactors are being designed for industrial heat applications as well as power generation.
轻水反应堆受压力限制，在300-400°C范围内运行，液态金属快速反应堆在400-600°C范围内，熔盐反应堆在600-700°C左右，高温反应堆在600-900°C。
Light water reactors are constrained by pressure limitations and operate in the 300 - 400°C range. Liquid metal fast reactors are in the 400 - 600°C range, molten salt reactors are around 600 - 700°C, and high-temperature reactors are 600 - 900°C.
可能使用SMRs的项目案例
Possible use cases for SMRs
在2022年和2023年，我们看到东南亚地区开发了很多200MWe规模的大型数据中心项目。
2022 and 2023 saw a number of large data center development projects in the 200MWe range, many of them in Southeast Asia.
去年，Yondr集团表示他们将在马来西亚开发一个200MWe的超大规模数据中心产业园。该公司宣布他们计划在Johor地区的Sedenak科技园落地此项目，该数据中心预计占地面积达到72.8英亩。
Last year Yondr Group said it would develop a 200MWe hyperscale campus in Malaysia. The company announced a plan to develop 72.8 acres of land in Johor’s Sedenak Tech Park.
T5数据中心宣布，他们计划在Georgia的Augusta建设一个占地140英亩、电力容量200MWe的政府及企业云数据中心产业园，并将其打造成美国东南部地区网络安全枢纽。
T5 Data centers announced the planned development of a 140-acre, 200MWe government and enterprise cloud data center campus in Augusta, Georgia, which it described as the Southeast US cybersecurity hub.
在韩国，能源与建筑公司Bosung Group表示，他们将在Jeonnam省的SolaSeaDo建设一个200MWe的数据中心产业园。该公司已与韩国能源投资公司(EIP)和Diode Ventures的合资企业绿色韩国(TGK)展开了合作。
In South Korea, energy and construction firm Bosung Group said it is to build a 200MWe data center campus in SolaSeaDo, in Jeonnam Province. The company has partnered with The Green Korea (TGK), a joint venture between South Korean energy investment firm Energy Innovation Partners (EIP) and Diode Ventures.
上述这些开发计划并没有预示出核能有可能成立数据中心主力能源的潜力。当前SMRs的投产和经营许可审批也可能要推迟到2028年甚至更晚，所以暂时也没有哪个已经公示的项目可以等待这么长的时间。
None of these developments has made any announcement on the potential use of nuclear power as a primary power source. Today, the timeframes for SMR production and licensing stretch to 2028 and beyond, so it could be that none of the currently publicized projects can wait that long.
然而，也不排除这种现状会有很快发生改变。
However, things could change quickly.
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翻译：
Teddy
维谛技术架构总监
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王谋锐
城地香江(上海)云计算有限公司 电气架构师
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