Versatile Heat Source for Nuclear Gas Turbine and Hydrogen Production Facility

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin F. McDonald
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Hydrogen Production ◽  
Heat Source ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Nuclear Plants

Recent media articles about nuclear power renaissance are encouraging, but this controversial topic is far from being embraced by major industrial powers. The fact is, that within the next two to three decades or so most of the first generation US nuclear power plants, currently producing about 20 percent of the nation’s electrical power, will be near the end of their design lives. In addition to providing needed power, a major argument put forward for the introduction of next generation smaller and safer nuclear plants relates to the growing concern about greenhouse gas emission and global warming. However, overcoming public and institutional resistance to nuclear power remains a formidable endeavor, and in reality the introduction of new plants in sufficient numbers to significantly impact the market will not be realized for several decades. Clearly vision is needed to define the requirements for new nuclear plants that will meet the needs of consumers by say the middle of the 21st century. Market forces will mandate changes in the energy supply sector, and to be in concert with environmental concerns new nuclear plants must have operational flexibility. In addition to economical electrical power, energy needs in the future could include hydrogen production in slgnificant quantity (for fuel cells in the transportation and power sectors) and fresh water by desalination for urban, industrial and agricultural users. The High Temperature Reactor (HTR) has the capability to meet these projected needs. With an established technology base, and successful plant operation in Germany, the helium cooled pebble bed reactor (PBR) must be regarded as a leading second generation nuclear plant. Operational versatility by virtue of its high temperature capability is assured, and high availability can be realized with its on-line refueling approach. While the multipurpose HTR may be several decades away from playing a significant rote in the commercial market place, this paper emphasizes the need for technical planning today to establish a nuclear heat source adaptable to both a high efficiency helium timed cycle gas turbine and large scale hydrogen production facilities, thus extending the role of nuclear power beyond just the supply of electrical power.

scholarly journals Benefits, Drawbacks, and Future Trends of Brayton Helium Gas Turbine Cycles for Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor and Very-High Temperature Reactor Generation IV Nuclear Power Plants

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnold Gad-Briggs ◽  
Emmanuel Osigwe ◽  
Pericles Pilidis ◽  
Theoklis Nikolaidis ◽  
Suresh Sampath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Optimum Operating ◽  
Future Trends ◽  
Design Point ◽  
Gen Iv ◽  
Very High

Abstract Numerous studies are on-going on to understand the performance of generation IV (Gen IV) nuclear power plants (NPPs). The objective is to determine optimum operating conditions for efficiency and economic reasons in line with the goals of Gen IV. For Gen IV concepts such as the gas-cooled fast reactors (GFRs) and very-high temperature reactors (VHTRs), the choice of cycle configuration is influenced by component choices, the component configuration and the choice of coolant. The purpose of this paper to present and review current cycles being considered—the simple cycle recuperated (SCR) and the intercooled cycle recuperated (ICR). For both cycles, helium is considered as the coolant in a closed Brayton gas turbine configuration. Comparisons are made for design point (DP) and off-design point (ODP) analyses to emphasize the pros and cons of each cycle. This paper also discusses potential future trends, include higher reactor core outlet temperatures (COT) in excess of 1000 °C and the simplified cycle configurations.

Nuclear Power in the UK Electricity Market: From a Limited Future to Eternal Life and Back Again?

2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-261
Author(s):  
Steve Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Electricity Market ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Eternal Life ◽  
Nuclear Plants ◽  
Supply Industry ◽  
The Uk

In 1990, the privatisation of the British electricity supply industry revealed how uneconomic Britain's nuclear power plants were. The nuclear sector was withdrawn from privatisation and it seemed likely that by 2000, most of Britain's nuclear power plants would be closed. However, operating costs were dramatically reduced and in 1996, most of the nuclear plants were privatised in British Energy. Nuclear output made an important contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the future looked secure for the existing plants. However, the early success of British Energy was based on an inflated wholesale electricity price and by 2000, British Energy was struggling to cover its costs. The British government is now conducting a review of energy policy. The economic case for new nuclear power plants is poor but the need to meet greenhouse gas emission targets and the influence British Energy and BNFL may ensure the long-term future of the existing plants.

scholarly journals Whisper and Roar

2014 ◽  
Vol 136 (07) ◽  
pp. 38-43
Author(s):  
Lee S. Langston
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Rankine Cycle ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Marine Applications ◽  
Almost All

This article focuses on the use of gas turbines for electrical power, mechanical drive, and marine applications. Marine gas turbines are used to generate electrical power for propulsion and shipboard use. Combined-cycle electric power plants, made possible by the gas turbine, continue to grow in size and unmatched thermal efficiency. These plants combine the use of the gas turbine Brayton cycle with that of the steam turbine Rankine cycle. As future combined cycle plants are introduced, we can expect higher efficiencies to be reached. Since almost all recent and new U.S. electrical power plants are powered by natural gas-burning, high-efficiency gas turbines, one has solid evidence of their contribution to the greenhouse gas reduction. If coal-fired thermal power plants, with a fuel-to-electricity efficiency of around 33%, are swapped out for combined-cycle power plants with efficiencies on the order of 60%, it will lead to a 70% reduction in carbon emissions per unit of electricity produced.

Research and Development of Compact Heat Exchangers of Gas Turbine Power Conversion Unit for Nuclear Power Plant With High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. F. Golovko ◽  
I. V. Dmitrieva ◽  
N. G. Kodochigov
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Heat Exchange ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Primary Circuit ◽  
Single Bundle ◽  
Conversion Unit

The NPP design that integrates a high temperature helium cooled nuclear reactor with a gas-turbine power conversion unit requires investigations and development of high-efficiency heat-exchange equipment operating in the closed primary circuit. The equipment must be very compact, which implies highly efficient heat transfer at minimum pressure loss. This paper presents an analysis of optimal heat-exchange surface selection, as well as design and layout features of recuperators, precoolers and intercoolers. Considered are tube (made of straight, helical, including those with the small bending radius, finned tubes etc.), plate-and-fin and matrix heat-exchange surfaces combined as separate modules or as a single bundle. Suggested are methods and criteria to select rational heat-exchange surfaces with account of critical factors and limitations. Given are results of the comparative analysis and computational and experimental investigations of surfaces; design and layout solutions for heat-exchange apparatuses arranged in the vertical high-pressure vessel with limited dimensions.

Development of a High-Temperature Molten Lithium Pump

1966 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-21
Author(s):  
R. W. Kelly ◽  
G. M. Wood ◽  
J. J. Milich ◽  
C. Ferguson ◽  
D. V. Manfredi
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Liquid Metal ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Molten Lithium

The circulation of the liquid-metal heat-transport fluids used in high-performance, mobile, nuclear power plants requires high-temperature pumps. These pumps must be capable of moderately high efficiency over a very long lifetime and have small size, low weight, and high reliability. As an initial phase of a lithium pump development program and to provide pumps for companion development programs, a 195-gpm pump was designed and successfully developed. Extensive testing of pump components, as well as water and liquid-metal tests of complete pump assemblies, was accomplished to meet the program objectives of high performance and high reliability for the required long operating lifetime. Several successful lithium tests of 10,000-hr duration were accomplished with the lithium development pumps and a pump used in a companion heat-exchanger development program.

Development of a High Temperature Liquid Metal Turbopump

1963 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Kelly ◽  
G. M. Wood ◽  
H. V. Marman
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Liquid Metals ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps

High performance, mobile, nuclear power plants utilizing liquid metals require high temperature pumps to circulate these heat transport fluids. These pumps must have moderately high efficiency, small size, low weight, and high reliability. In order to satisfy these requirements, centrifugal pumps directly coupled to gas turbines are utilized. As part of the aircraft nuclear power plant development program, the 3000 gpm stainless steel turbopump described in this paper was designed and tested in NaK at temperatures up to 1300 F.

scholarly journals Powering Ahead

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (05) ◽  
pp. 30-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee S. Langston
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
The United States ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Electrical Power System ◽  
Efficient Technology ◽  
The Military

This article explores the increasing use of natural gas in different turbine industries and in turn creating an efficient electrical system. All indications are that the aviation market will be good for gas turbine production as airlines and the military replace old equipment and expanding economies such as China and India increase their air travel. Gas turbines now account for some 22% of the electricity produced in the United States and 46% of the electricity generated in the United Kingdom. In spite of this market share, electrical power gas turbines have kept a much lower profile than competing technologies, such as coal-fired thermal plants and nuclear power. Gas turbines are also the primary device behind the modern combined power plant, about the most fuel-efficient technology we have. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is developing a new J series gas turbine for the combined cycle power plant market that could achieve thermal efficiencies of 61%. The researchers believe that if wind turbines and gas turbines team up, they can create a cleaner, more efficient electrical power system.

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