scholarly journals The Nuclear Closed-Cycle Gas Turbine (HTGR-GT)—Dry Cooled Commercial Power Plant Studies

1981 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin F. McDonald ◽  
Charles R. Boland
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Prestressed Concrete ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Primary System ◽  
Closed Cycle ◽  
High Power Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Major Power ◽  
Commercial Plant

Combining the modern and proven power conversion system of the closed-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) with an advanced high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) results in a power plant well suited to projected utility needs into the twenty-first century. The gas turbine HTGR (HTGR-GT) power plant benefits are consistent with national energy goals, and the high power conversion efficiency potential satisfies increasingly important resource conservation demands. Established technology bases for the HTGR-GT are outlined, together with the extensive design and development program necessary to commercialize the nuclear CCGT plant for utility service in the 1990s. This paper outlines the most recent design studies by General Atomic for a dry-cooled commercial plant of 800 to 1200 MW(e) power, based on both nonintercooled and intercooled cycles, and discusses various primary system aspects. Details are given of the reactor turbine system (RTS) and on integrating the major power conversion components in the prestressed concrete reactor vessel.

Component Design Considerations for Gas Turbine HTGR Power Plant

1975 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. F. McDonald ◽  
R. G. Adams ◽  
F. R. Bell ◽  
P. Fortescue
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Primary Circuit ◽  
Primary System ◽  
Design Considerations ◽  
Conversion System

The gas turbine high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) power plant combines the existing design HTGR core with a closed-cycle helium gas turbine power conversion system directly in the reactor primary circuit. The high density helium working fluid results in a very compact power conversion system. While the geometries of the helium turbomachinery, heat exchangers, and internal gas flow paths differ from air breathing gas turbines because of the nature of the working fluid and the high degree of pressurization, many of the aerodynamic, heat transfer and dynamic analytical procedures used in the design are identical to conventional open-cycle industrial gas turbine practice. This paper outlines some of the preliminary design considerations for the rotating machinery, heat exchangers, and other major primary system components for an integrated type of plant embodying multiple gas turbine loops. The high potential for further improvement in plant efficiency and capacity, for both advanced dry-cooled and waste heat power cycle versions of the direct-cycle nuclear gas turbine, is also discussed.

Heat Exchanger Design Considerations for Gas Turbine HTGR Power Plant

1977 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. F. McDonald ◽  
T. Van Hagan ◽  
K. Vepa
Keyword(s):  
Heat Exchanger ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Structural Safety ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Closed Cycle ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Cycle Efficiency

The Gas Turbine High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (GT-HTGR) power plant combines the existing design HTGR core with a closed-cycle helium gas turbine power conversion system directly in the reactor primary circuit. Unlike open-cycle gas turbines where the recuperative heat exchanger is an optional component, the high cycle efficiency of the nuclear closed-cycle gas turbine is attributable to a high degree to the incorporation of the recuperator (helium-to-helium) and precooler (helium-to-water) exchangers in the power conversion loop. For the integrated plant configuration, a nonintercooled cycle with a high degree of heat recuperation was selected on the basis of performance and economic optimization studies. A recuperator of high effectiveness was chosen because it significantly reduces the optimum pressure ratio (for maximum cycle efficiency), and thus reduces the number of compressor and turbine stages for the low molecular weight, high specific heat, helium working fluid. Heat rejection from the primary system is effected by a helium-to-water precooler, which cools the gas to a low level prior to compression. The fact that the rejection heat is derived from the sensible rather than the latent heat of the cycle working fluid results in dissipation over a wide band of temperature, the high average rejection temperature being advantageous for either direct air cooling or for generation of power in a waste heat cycle. The high heat transfer rates in the recuperator (3100 MWt) and precooler (1895 MWt), combined with the envelope restraints associated with heat exchanger integration in the prestressed concrete reactor vessel, require the use of more compact surface geometries than in contemporary power plant steam generators. Various aspects of surface geometry, flow configuration, mechanical design, fabrication, and integration of the heat exchangers are discussed for a plant in the 1100 MWe class. The influence of cycle parameters on the relative sizes of the recuperator and precooler are also presented. While the preliminary designs included are not meant to represent final solutions, they do embody features that satisfy many of the performance, structural, safety, and economic requirements.

scholarly journals Ammonia Turbomachinery Design Considerations for the Direct Cycle Nuclear Gas Turbine Waste Heat Power Plant

1977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin F. McDonald ◽  
Kosla Vepa
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Waste Heat ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Heat Power ◽  
Closed Cycle ◽  
Design Work ◽  
Design Considerations ◽  
Turbomachinery Design

This paper describes the turbomachinery design considerations for a supercritical Rankine cycle waste heat power conversion system for use with the large helium closed-cycle gas turbine nuclear power plant under development by General Atomic Company. The conceptual designs of the ammonia turbine and pump are presented. The high density working fluid in the ammonia turbine results in small blade heights and high hub-to-tip ratios due to a combination of the properties of ammonia and the high degree of pressurization, particularly at the turbine exit. With the molecular weight of the ammonia working fluid being very similar to steam, the double-flow, multistage axial ammonia turbine bears a strong resemblance to modern steam turbines. Conceptual design work has been done in sufficient detail to support component cost estimates for the balance of plant economic studies. While an extensive design program is needed for the ammonia turbine, existing technology from the power generating and chemical process industries is generally applicable; and, with specialized design attention, the goal of high turbine efficiency should be realizable. The design studies have been specifically directed toward a nuclear closed-cycle helium gas turbine plant (GT-HTGR); however, it is postulated that the turbine design considerations presented could be applicable to other low temperature power conversion systems such as geothermal or industrial waste heat applications.

scholarly journals Primary System Preliminary Design for Gas Turbine HTGR Power Plant

1976 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. F. McDonald ◽  
P. Fortescue ◽  
J. M. Krase
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Waste Heat ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Integrated Design ◽  
Primary Circuit ◽  
Primary System ◽  
Preliminary Design

The Gas Turbine High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (GT-HTGR) power plant combines the existing HTGR core with a closed-cycle helium gas turibne power-conversion system directly in the reactor primary circuit. An integrated design concept in which the reactor core, turbomachinery, heat exchangers, and entire helium inventory are enclosed within the prestressed concrete reactor vessel (PCRV) was selected on the basis of both safety and economic reasons. Th layout of the power-conversion loop (PCL) components, with envelope restraints associated with installation in cavities in the PCRV, and development of the primary system gas flow paths are discussed. This paper outlines the studies which led to the selection of the primary system for an integrated type of plant embodying multiple gas turbine loops. With orientation and configuration of the major components in the PCL forming the basis of these studies, some of the preliminary design considerations for the turbomachinery, heat exchangers, and other components are discussed. The high potential for further improvement in plant efficiency and capacity, for both advanced dry-cooled and waste heat power cycle versions of the direct cycle nuclear gas turbine, is also discussed.

Multi-Fluid Gas Turbine Components Scaling for a Generation IV Nuclear Power Plant Performance Simulation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel O. Osigwe ◽  
Arnold Gad-Briggs ◽  
Theoklis Nikolaidis ◽  
Pericles Pilidis ◽  
Suresh Sampath
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Simulation Tool ◽  
Closed Cycle ◽  
Performance Simulation ◽  
Working Fluids ◽  
Component Map

One major challenge to the accurate development of performance simulation tool for component-based nuclear power plant engine models is the difficulty in accessing component performance maps; hence, researchers or engineers often rely on estimation approach using various scaling techniques. This paper describes a multi-fluid scaling approach used to determine the component characteristics of a closed-cycle gas turbine plant from an existing component map with their design data, which can be applied for different working fluids as may be required in closed-cycle gas turbine operations to adapt data from one component map into a new component map. Each component operation is defined by an appropriate change of state equations which describes its thermodynamic behavior, thus, a consideration of the working fluid properties is of high relevance to the scaling approach. The multi-fluid scaling technique described in this paper was used to develop a computer simulation tool called GT-ACYSS, which can be valuable for analyzing the performance of closed-cycle gas turbine operations with different working fluids. This approach makes it easy to theoretically scale existing map using similar or different working fluids without carrying out a full experimental test or repeating the whole design and development process. The results of selected case studies show a reasonable agreement with available data.

Modeling and Analysis of Power Conversion System for High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor With Cogeneration

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Afrazeh ◽  
Hiwa Khaledi ◽  
Mohammad Bagher Ghofrani
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Heat Source ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Closed Cycle ◽  
Nuclear Heat ◽  
Conversion System ◽  
High Temperature Gas

A gas turbine in combination with a nuclear heat source has been subject of study for some years. This paper describes the advantages of a gas turbine combined with an inherently safe and well-proven nuclear heat source. The design of the power conversion system is based on a regenerative, non-intercooled, closed, direct Brayton cycle with high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR), as heat source and helium gas as the working fluid. The plant produces electricity and hot water for district heating (DH). Variation of specific heat, enthalpy and entropy of working fluid with pressure and temperature are included in this model. Advanced blade cooling technology is used in order to allow for a high turbine inlet temperature. The paper starts with an overview of the main characteristics of the nuclear heat source, Then presents a study to determine the specifications of a closed-cycle gas turbine for the HTGR installation. Attention is given to the way such a closed-cycle gas turbine can be modeled. Subsequently the sensitivity of the efficiency to several design choices is investigated. This model is developed in Fortran.

scholarly journals Turbomachinery Design Considerations for the Nuclear HTGR-GT Power Plant

1981 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin F. McDonald ◽  
Murdo J. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Mechanical Design ◽  
Primary System ◽  
Design Considerations ◽  
Commercial Plant ◽  
Industrial Gas Turbines ◽  
Plant Configuration ◽  
Turbomachinery Design ◽  
The U.S

For several years, design studies have been underway in the U.S. on a nuclear closed-cycle gas turbine plant (HTGR-GT). This paper presents design aspects of the helium turbo-machine portion of these studies. Gas dynamic and mechanical design considerations are presented for helium turbomachines in the 400 MWe (non-intercooled) and 600 MWe (intercooled) power range. Design of the turbomachine is a key element in the overall power plant program effort, which is currently directed towards the selection of a reference HTGR-GT commercial plant configuration for the U.S. utility market. A conservative design approach has been emphasized to provide for maximum safety and durability. The studies presented for the integrated plant concept outline the necessary close working relationship between the reactor primary system and turbomachine designers. State-of-the-art technology from large industrial gas turbines developed in the U.S., considered directly applicable to the design of a helium turbomachine, particularly in the areas of design methodology, performance, materials, and fabrication methods, is emphasized.

scholarly journals The Design of Turbomachinery for the Gas Turbine (Direct Cycle) High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor Power Plant

1977 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. Adams ◽  
F. H. Boenig
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Reactor Power ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Primary Coolant ◽  
Reactor Power Plant ◽  
Direct Cycle ◽  
High Temperature Gas

The Gas Turbine HTGR, or “Direct Cycle” High-Temperature Gas-Cooled, Reactor power plant, uses a closed-cycle gas turbine directly in the primary coolant circuit of a helium-cooled high-temperature nuclear reactor. Previous papers have described configuration studies leading to the selection of reactor and power conversion loop layout, and the considerations affecting the design of the components of the power conversion loop. This paper discusses briefly the effects of the helium working fluid and the reactor cooling loop environment on the design requirements of the direct-cycle turbomachinery and describes the mechanical arrangement of a typical turbomachine for this application. The aerodynamic design is outlined, and the mechanical design is described in some detail, with particular emphasis on the bearings and seals for the turbomachine.

The Liquid Metal Fuel Reactor Closed-Cycle Gas Turbine Power Plant

1956 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. D. Stoughton ◽  
T. V. Sheehan
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Liquid Metal ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Reactor Fuel ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Closed Cycle ◽  
Fuel Reactor ◽  
Metal Fuel ◽  
Gas Turbine Power Plant

A nuclear power plant is proposed which combines the advantages of a liquid metal fueled reactor with those inherent in a closed cycle gas turbine. The reactor fuel is a solution of uranium in molten bismuth which allows for unlimited burn-up with continuous fuel make-up and processing. The fuel can either be contained in a graphite core structure or circulated through an external heat exchanger. The cycle working fluid is an inert gas which is heated by the reactor fuel before entering the turbine. A 15 MW closed cycle gas turbine system is shown to illustrate the application of this reactor.

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