The Nuclear Gas Turbine: A Perspective on a Long-Term Advanced Technology HTGR Plant Option

Abstract

Design studies and assessments were carried out in the 1970s on an advanced, direct-cycle high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) option. These led to conclusions in 1980 that an extensive development effort was necessary to establish a technically viable gas turbine HTGR (HTGR-GT) plant to satisfy demanding safety and licensing criteria and that further design innovation was necessary to identify plant features for improved economics. The steam cycle HTGR was designated as the lead plant and the HTGR-GT classed as a long-term, advanced technology, second-generation HTGR plant option. With the necessary development, a dry-cooled gas turbine plant with a reactor outlet temperature of approximately 950°C, operating in a combined cycle mode or cogeneration mode, could be realized. This paper reviews the status of the Brayton cycle plant and gives a perspective on the HTGR-GT plant as a follow-on option to the steam Rankine cycle lead plant.

The Key Role of Heat Exchangers in Closed Brayton Cycle Gas Turbine Power Plants

“…Studies of large nuclear gas turbine plant concepts were undertaken in the late 1970's in the U.S. (McDonald and Peinado, 1982) and Germany, but discontinued because of lack of technology readiness. For a smaller plant concept, studies were initiated in the U.S. in 1993 based on a modular reactor and a direct plant cycle conceptual design was established (Neylan, 1995).…”

The MHTGR Gas Turbine: A Power Plant Ideally Suited to Meeting the Energy Needs of the Newly Industrializing Nations

“…The focal point is the vertical rotating group consisting of an axial flow helium compressor and turbine directly coupled to a submerged generator. An important element of the integrated generator is that it obviates the need for a shaft penetration through the vessel, that was the nemesis of earlier nuclear gas turbine designs (McDonald and Peinado, 1982). With all of the power conversion system installed in the steel vessel a premium is placed on component compactness, particularly for the heliumto-helium recuperator, a key component for high efficiency realization.…”

Performance Potential of an Advanced Nuclear Gas Turbine/Cogeneration System (HTGR-GT/C)

“…It shows an 850°C gas turbine plant. A perspective on the HTGR-GT as a long-term HTGR option has been discussed previously (6); this paper discusses the performance potential for a GT/C plant operating at 950°C. This temperature is beyond current technology in terms of material behavior and component design and is in the regime for process heat applications (7).…”