The key role of heat exchangers in advanced gas-cooled reactor plants

McDonald, Colin F.

doi:10.1016/0890-4332(94)90067-1

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Heat exchangers play an important role in all gas cooled reactor plants (McDonald, 1994d), and are major contributors to high efficiency in the NCBC plant (McDonald, 1996a). In the case of the recuperator, technology advancements enable a compact plate-fin unit to be used to meet the requirements of high effectiveness (i.e., 95%) and low pressure loss.…”

Section: Heat Exchangersmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Indirect Cycle: A Logical and Practical Nuclear Gas Turbine Power Plant Concept

McDonald

1996

Volume 3: Coal, Biomass and Alternative Fuels; Combustion and Fuels; Oil and Gas Applications; Cycle Innovations

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Many variants of the nuclear closed Brayton cycle (NCBC) power plant have been studied over the last five decades, the ultimate goal being the introduction of a high efficiency and environmentally acceptable plant for electrical power generation. With an indirect cycle (IDC) plant the thermal energy from a high temperature reactor (HTR) is transferred to the helium gas turbine power conversion system via an intermediate heat exchanger. Compared with previous direct cycle variants the decoupling of the prime-mover from the reactor has the following advantages, 1) configuration flexibility (eased congestion), 2) good component access, 3) non radioactive power conversion system, 4) ease of maintenance, 5) use of conventional equipment, 6) reduced development effort, and 7) eased adaptability to a fossil-fired source. In addition to being a more practical configuration, a major attribute for the IDC is that it is compatible with long-term plans for development of a high temperature nuclear heat source (NHS) currently underway in Japan. With a NHS in place a logical progression of the HTR would be to deploy a power generation version using an IDC helium gas turbine. This paper sheds new light on the nuclear gas turbine in that it is no longer at the forefront of gas cooled reactor application studies, but rather could be a beneficiary of work currently underway in Japan to develop a nuclear heat source for high temperature process heat. The performance and major features of a future NCBC plant concept are highlighted in this paper. Depending on the market forces prevailing in Asia for small nuclear plants, the NCBC with an indirect cycle helium gas turbine could be available for service around the year 2020.

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Section: Heat Exchangersmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Indirect Cycle: A Logical and Practical Nuclear Gas Turbine Power Plant Concept

McDonald

1996

Volume 3: Coal, Biomass and Alternative Fuels; Combustion and Fuels; Oil and Gas Applications; Cycle Innovations

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“…Another important transfer area is the utilization of compact recuperators. Significant advancements in heat exchangers lime been made in the last decade, with technologies applicable to both clean working fluids (McDonald, 1994b), and air breathing systems. Compact plate fin recuperators combine high effectiveness (0.95) with low pressure loss (2%) and small volume.…”

Section: Enabling and Developing Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Past studies of CCGT systems concentrated on matching closed cycle systems with gas-cooled reactors for nuclear applications (McDonald, 1977(McDonald, , 1994a(McDonald, , 1994bYan and Lidslcy, 1993) and on space or underwater systems (ICoraldanitis et al, 1993(ICoraldanitis et al, , 1994Massardo, 1993;Massardo and Amulfi, 1992). Beyond these applications, where CCGT are indispensable, two other terrestrial CCGT applications are presently dominant.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Assessment of the Performance of Closed Cycles With and Without Heat Rejection at Cryogenic Temperatures

Agazzani

Massardo

Korakianitis

1996

Volume 3: Coal, Biomass and Alternative Fuels; Combustion and Fuels; Oil and Gas Applications; Cycle Innovations

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This paper presents optimized cycle performance that can be obtained with systems including a Closed Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT). The influence of maximum temperature, minimum temperature and recuperator effectiveness on cycle performance is illustrated. Several power-plant arrangements are analyzed and compared based on: thermodynamic performance (thermal efficiency and specific work); enabling technologies (available at present); and developing technologies (available in the near term or future). The work includes the effects of utilization of high temperature ceramic heat exchangers and of coupling of CCGT systems with plants vaporizing Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) or Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Given the versatility of energy addition and rejection sources that can be utilized in closed gas-cycle systems, the thermodynamic performance of power plants shown in this paper indicate the remarkable capabilities and possibilities for closed gas-cycle systems.

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“…Perhaps the key technology that facilitates the high efficiency of the GT-MHR plant is the utilization of a compact recuperator. Significant advancements in heat exchangers have been made in the last decade with technologies applicable to helium (McDonald, 1994d) and air-breathing systems (McDonald, 1990). It is the compact plate-fin type of recuperator (Kretzinger, 1985) that permits utilization of a high effectiveness (95%), low pressure loss (2%) and installation of the assembly within the confines of the vessel.…”

Section: Recuperatormentioning

confidence: 99%

Helium and Combustion Gas Turbine Power Conversion Systems Comparison

McDonald

1995

Volume 3: Coal, Biomass and Alternative Fuels; Combustion and Fuels; Oil and Gas Applications; Cycle Innovations

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For closed-cycle gas turbines, in a size to meet utility power generation needs, the selection of helium as the working fluid represents the best solution in terms of the overall power conversion system considering the differing requirements of the turbomachinery and heat exchangers. Helium is well suited for the nuclear Brayton cycle because it is neutronically inert. The impact of helium’s unique properties on the performance and size of the power conversion system components is discussed in this paper. The helium gas turbine plants, that have operated were based on 1950s and 1960s technology, represent a valuable technology base in terms of practical experience gained. However, the design of the Gas Turbine Modular Helium Reactor (GT-MHR), which could see utility service in the first decade of the 21st century will utilize turbomachinery and heat exchanger technologies from the combustion gas turbine and aerospace industries. An understanding of how the design of power conversion systems for closed-cycle plants and combustion gas turbines are affected by the working fluids (i.e., helium and air, respectively) is the major theme of this paper.

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The key role of heat exchangers in advanced gas-cooled reactor plants

Cited by 14 publications

References 28 publications

The Indirect Cycle: A Logical and Practical Nuclear Gas Turbine Power Plant Concept

The Indirect Cycle: A Logical and Practical Nuclear Gas Turbine Power Plant Concept

An Assessment of the Performance of Closed Cycles With and Without Heat Rejection at Cryogenic Temperatures

Helium and Combustion Gas Turbine Power Conversion Systems Comparison

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