ArtiCore X300H

Industrial CHP Reactor Platform – Technical Datasheet

General Description

ArtiCore X300H is a heat-optimized 300 MWe class Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) engineered for high-capacity industrial Combined Heat & Power (CHP) and municipal applications. 

The platform integrates baseload electricity generation with high-grade process steam and district heating supply. The solution is based on proven commercial PWR technology and established light-water reactor design principles.

ArtiCore X300H does not introduce novel reactor physics. It applies well-understood, widely deployed pressurized water reactor technology in a heat-optimized configuration suitable for industry and urban energy systems.

Design philosophy and Design Objectives:

• Proven PWR technology base

• Simplified systems

• Passive safety  architecture

• Industrial and municipal heat integration

• 48-month fuel cycle capability

• High availability (> 90%)

Technology Basis – Proven Reactor Platform 

ArtiCore X300H is based on:

• Commercial light-water reactor (LWR) technology

• Standard low-enriched uranium fuel

• Established PWR safety philosophy

• Passive decay heat removal systems in modern reactor design with redundant active pumping systems to guarantee core cooling under the most demanding LOCA scenarios. 

Key principle:

The platform relies on evolutionary adaptation, not experimental reactor concepts. Advantages of this approach:

• Reduced technology risk

• Familiar regulatory framework

• Established fuel supply chain

• Existing operational experience base

Core Performance Parameters

Parameter Value

Reactor Type PWR

Thermal Power ~900 MWth

Net Electrical Output ~300 MWe

CHP Heat Extraction ~250–400 MWth

Steam Pressure (main) 60–70 bar

Process Steam Extraction 40–60 bar

District Heat Level 110–130°C

Overall CHP Efficiency 85–90%

Design Lifetime 60 years

Capacity Factor (target) >90%

Primary System Architecture 

Configuration: 

• Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV)

• Single or dual steam generator configuration

• Low power density core optimized for extended cycle 

• Integrated pressurizer (hot leg configuration)

• Reactor coolant pumps (low-count architecture)

• In-containment Refueling Water Storage Tank (IRWST)

• Passive Core Makeup System

Primary Operating Conditions: 

• Operating Pressure: ~155 bar (primary circuit)

• Operating Core Outlet Temperature: ~320°C (typical PWR range)

Design emphasis: 

• Long-cycle reactivity control margin

• Thermal margin under CHP extraction

• Simplified safety-class systems

Fuel & Refueling Strategy (48-Month Cycle)

Parameter Specification

Fuel Type Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU)

Enrichment ≤4.95%

Target Burnup 55–60 GWd/tU

Fuel Cycle Length 48 months

Refueling Outage Duration 3–4 weeks

Refueling Interval Every 4 years

Engineering basis

• Reduced linear heat rate

• Mature cladding materials

• Standard PWR fuel assembly technology

• Optimized fuel management strategy

Operational benefit:

• Reduced outage frequency

• Stable heat supply for industry and district heating networks

• Improved predictability for municipal energy planning

Secondary & CHP System

• High-efficiency steam turbine

• Multi-stage steam extraction

• Industrial process steam headers:

  • 60 bar (high-grade)

  • 25–40 bar (intermediate)

  • 5–10 bar (low pressure, optional)

• District heating heat exchangers

• Condenser cooling system:

  • Seawater / cooling tower / hybrid

Designed for:

• Industrial clusters

• Refinery and chemical sites

• Large district heating systems

• Urban CHP replacement of coal or gas plants

Municipal & Urban Applications

ArtiCore X300H is suitable for:

• Large city district heating networks

• Regional CHP replacement plants

• Municipal energy utilities

• Industrial-urban hybrid energy hubs

Benefits for cities and municipalities:

• Long-term heat price stability

• Reduced fossil fuel dependency

• Decarbonization of district heating

• High reliability during winter peak demand

The platform can function as:

• Stand-alone industrial CHP unit

• City-scale district heating backbone

• Combined industrial + municipal heat provider

Passive Safety Systems – Physics-Based Protection by Design

Modern nuclear safety architecture combines passive physics-based protection with targeted active redundancy where required by safety case and licensing philosophy.

The concept integrates gravity, natural circulation, and condensation-based heat removal — while also including redundant active emergency core cooling pumps (2 × 50%) for LOCA conditions.

The objective is clear:

Ensure core cooling and decay heat removal under all credible transients — with or without external power.

• Gravity-driven emergency cooling

• Automatic Depressurization System (ADS)

• In-containment water inventory (IRWST)

• Passive Containment Cooling System (PCCS)

• ≥72-hour no need assistance period without external power

Safety principle:

• Physics-based protection using gravity, natural circulation, and condensation heat removal. 

Site & Infrastructure Requirements

• Typical Site Footprint: ~8 000–12 000 m² per unit

• Cooling Options: 

  • Coastal seawater

  • Mechanical draft cooling towers

  • CHP-driven reduced condenser load

• Grid Connection:

  • 300 MWe transmission interface

  • Black-start optional integration

• Industrial Integration:

  • Direct process steam tie-in

  • Return condensate recovery

  • Industrial PPA configuration

Fuel & Operations

• Fuel Type:

  • Low-enriched uranium (standard PWR fuel assemblies)

• Fuel Cycle:

  • 24–48 months typical 

    • Fuel cycle optimized for extended 48-month operation, minimizing refueling outages and maximizing industrial availability 

• Refueling Outage:

  • ~3–4 weeks

• Operational Crew:

  • Reduced staffing via simplified system design

Environmental Performance

• CO₂ Emissions:

  • Near-zero operational emissions

• Industrial Boiler Replacement Potential:

  • 900 MWth fossil displacement per unit

• Expected CO₂ Reduction:

  • ~1–2 Mt/year depending on replaced fuel

• Water Use:

  • Reduced vs. pure condensing plant in CHP mode

• Significant reduction in urban air pollution when replacing coal or gas CHP 

Economic Design Targets

• Target Construction Duration:

  • ~36–48 months (NOAK target)

• CAPEX Target Range:

  • 3000–4500 €/kWe (series production dependent)

• Target LCOE:

  • <70 €/MWh (site dependent)

• Target LCOH:

  • <50 €/MWh (industrial integration dependent)

Extended fuel cycle contributes to:

• Reduced outage count over plant lifetime

• Stable municipal heat contracts

• Predictable long-term revenue structurea

Platform Variants

• ArtiCore X300 – electricity-optimized

• ArtiCore X300H – heat-optimized CHP

• ArtiCore X450H – scaled industrial cluster

• ArtiCore X300H2 – hydrogen-integrated variant

ArtiCore X300H – Proven PWR Technology. Industrial & Municipal Heat. Long-Term Stability. Energy Infrastructure Platform – Patented Industrial Heat & Power Platform