Power conversion systems based on Brayton cycles for fusion reactors

Linares, J. I. Vico; Herranz, L.E.; Moratilla, B.Y.; Serrano, I.P.

doi:10.1016/j.fusengdes.2011.02.010

Cited by 33 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Consider for example a dual-cooled reactor in which lithium-lead is circulated so that it acts as a primary coolant as well as breeder, but helium is also used to cool the structural components. 13 As before we assume that the divertor is much hotter than the blanket (helium temperatures reaching 800 and 400 C, respectively, while the liquid metal reaches 700 C). Taking account the relatively low inlet helium temperature (300 C), a CO 2 recompression Brayton cycle with a Rankine bottoming cycle was proposed, giving 47% gross efficiency.…”

Section: Secondary Coolants and Electricity Generationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Converting energy from fusion into useful forms

Kovari

Harrington

Jenkins

et al. 2013

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A:

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If fusion power reactors are to be feasible, it will still be necessary to convert the energy of the nuclear reaction into usable form. The heat produced will be removed from the reactor core by a primary coolant, which might be water, helium, molten lithium-lead, molten lithium-containing salt, or CO2. The heat could then be transferred to a conventional Rankine cycle or Brayton (gas turbine) cycle. Alternatively it could be used for thermochemical processes such as producing hydrogen or other transport fuels. Fusion presents new problems because of the high energy neutrons released. These affect the selection of materials and the operating temperature, ultimately determining the choice of coolant and working cycle. The limited temperature ranges allowed by present day irradiated structural materials, combined with the large internal power demand of the plant, will limit the overall thermal efficiency. The operating conditions of the fusion power source, the materials, coolant, and energy conversion system will all need to be closely integrated.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figures, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy December 11, 201

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Section: Secondary Coolants and Electricity Generationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Converting energy from fusion into useful forms

Kovari

Harrington

Jenkins

et al. 2013

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A:

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“…The high temperature range of the long-term blanket entails the use of Brayton power cycles which do not use water as working fluid, simplifying the tritium removal again. These high temperature blanket Brayton cycles using helium as working fluid were analyzed in [5], concluding that the expected temperatures are not high enough to achieve high efficiencies. This type of power cycles require temperatures in the range of 850-900 ºC to achieve good efficiencies, as found for Very High Temperature Reactors (VHTR) in fission Generation IV designs [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supercritical CO2 Brayton power cycles for DEMO (demonstration power plant) fusion reactor based on dual coolant lithium lead blanket

Linares

Cantizano

Moratilla

et al. 2016

Energy

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Fusion energy is one of the most promising solutions to the world's energy supply. This paper presents an exploratory analysis of the suitability of supercritical CO 2 Brayton power cycles as alternative energy conversion systems for a future fusion reactor based on a dual coolant lithium-lead (DCLL) blanket, as prescribed by EUROfusion. The main issue dealt is the optimization of the integration of the different thermal sources with the power cycle (up to four at different power and temperature levels) in order to achieve the highest electricity production. The analysis includes the assessment of the pumping consumption both in the source loops as in the sink one. Other considerations, as control issues and integration of thermal energy storage systems to face the pulsed operation, have been also taken intoaccount. An exergy analysis has been performed in order to understand the behavior of each layout.Up to ten scenarios have been analyzed, taking into account the heat power released from some thermal sources directly to the sink and assessing different locations for thermal sources heat exchangers.Neglecting the worst four scenarios, it is observed less than 2% of variation among the other six ones.One of the best six scenarios clearly stands out over the others due to the location of the thermal sources in a unique island, being this scenario compatible with the control criteria. In this proposal 34.6% of electric efficiency (before the self-consumptions of the reactor but including pumping consumptions and generator efficiency) is achieved.KEYWORDS: balance of plant, fusion power, supercritical CO 2 Brayton cycle, DCLL, DEMO Highlights:> Supercritical CO 2 Brayton cycles have been proposed for BoP of DCLL fusion reactor.> Integration of different available thermal sources has been analyzed considering ten scenarios.> Neglecting the four worst scenarios the electricity production varies less than 2%. > Control and energy storage integration issues have been considered in the analysis. > Discarding the vacuum vessel and joining the other sources in an island is proposed.-3 -

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“…Helium Brayton cycles are promising candidates for the power conversion in future fission (Generation IV: HTGRs and SFR) [1][2][3][4][5] and fusion reactors [6][7][8][9]. Results show high thermal efficiencies, higher than those obtained with the Rankine cycle of current nuclear plants.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design and analysis of helium Brayton power cycles for HiPER reactor

Sánchez

Juárez

Sanz

et al. 2013

Fusion Engineering and Design

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HIGHLIGHTS• A helium Brayton cycle has been designed integrating the two energy sources of HiPER.• The Brayton cycle has intercooling stages and a recovery process.• The low temperature of HiPER heat sources results in low cycle efficiency (35.2%).• Two inter-cooling stages and a reheating process increases efficiency to over 37%.• Helium Brayton cycles are to be considered as candidates for HiPER power cycles. ABSTRACTHelium Brayton cycles have been studied as power cycles for both fission and fusion reactors obtaining high thermal efficiency. This paper studies several technological schemes of helium Brayton cycles applied for the HiPER reactor proposal. Since HiPER integrates technologies available at short term, its working conditions results in a very low maximum temperature of the energy sources, something that limits the thermal performance of the cycle. The aim of this work is to analyze the potential of the helium Brayton cycles as power cycles for HiPER. Several helium Brayton cycle configurations have been investigated with the purpose of raising the cycle thermal efficiency under the working conditions of HiPER. The effects of inter-cooling and reheating have specifically been studied. Sensitivity analyses of the key cycle parameters and component performances on the maximum thermal efficiency have also been carried out. The addition of several inter-cooling stages in a helium Brayton cycle has allowed obtaining a maximum thermal efficiency of over 36%, and the inclusion of a reheating process may also yield an added increase of nearly 1 percentage point to reach 37%. These results confirm that helium Brayton cycles are to be considered among the power cycle candidates for HiPER.

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Power conversion systems based on Brayton cycles for fusion reactors

Cited by 33 publications

References 5 publications

Converting energy from fusion into useful forms

Converting energy from fusion into useful forms

Supercritical CO2 Brayton power cycles for DEMO (demonstration power plant) fusion reactor based on dual coolant lithium lead blanket

Design and analysis of helium Brayton power cycles for HiPER reactor

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