Investigation of open-cycle magnetohydrodynamic power generation

The purpose of this paper is to examine some possibilities for achieving high gas temperatures in the turbines of both open-cycle and closed-cycle plant and to show how some of the experience gained from research, development, and design of internally cooled blading for aero-engines can be applied to industrial power generation. For the short-term future, preferred schemes would seem to embrace the use of internal air cooling for open-cycle plant and refractory metals without cooling for closed-cycle nuclear plant.

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Dual Open Cycle Peaking Gas Turbine Power Plant

ASME 2005 Power Conference ◽

10.1115/pwr2005-50169 ◽

2005 ◽

Author(s):

Rodger O. Anderson

Keyword(s):

Power Generation ◽

Gas Turbine ◽

Gas Turbines ◽

Heat Waves ◽

Waste Heat ◽

Time Of Day ◽

Atmospheric Conditions ◽

Spinning Reserve ◽

Open Cycle ◽

Electrical Generation

The generation of electrical power is a complex matter that is dependent in part both on the anticipated demand and the actual amount of power required on the grid. Therefore, the amount of power being generated varies widely depending on the time of day, day of the week, and atmospheric conditions such as cold spells and heat waves. While the amount of power varies, it is recognized that maximum efficiencies are achieved by operating power generation systems at or near steady state conditions. With this in mind, there has been an increased use of gas turbine systems that may be quickly added online to the grid to provide additional power because gas turbine systems are typically well suited for being brought online quickly to provide spinning reserve or electrical generation. However, gas turbines are recognized as not being as efficient as other plant systems such as large steam plants because the gas turbine is an open cycle system where approximately 60 to 70 percent of the energy is lost as exhaust waste heat energy. One recognized method of increasing gas turbine efficiencies is to add a steam bottoming cycle to the exhaust system. However, these closed cycle systems are costly and they compromise the gas turbine’s quick starting capability. This paper discusses an open bottoming cycle that is simple, cost effective and well suited for peaking power generation service. It not only substantially improves the gas turbine simple cycle plant heat rate, but also provides the opportunity to greatly reduce the NOX emissions levels with the application of a low temperature SCR.

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Book Review: Open Cycle MHD Power Generation

International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education ◽

10.1177/002072097000800131 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 79-81

Author(s):

P. H. Dunn

Keyword(s):

Power Generation ◽

Open Cycle

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Inherently Safe Nuclear Power Generation With Electrically Coupled Compressor and Turbo Expander(s)

Volume 7: Turbo Expo 2004 ◽

10.1115/gt2004-53336 ◽

2004 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gulian A. K. Crommelin ◽

Walter F. Crommelin

Keyword(s):

Power Generation ◽

Heat Source ◽

Gas Turbine ◽

Gas Turbines ◽

Nuclear Power ◽

Small Scale ◽

Nuclear Power Generation ◽

Small Current ◽

Nuclear Heat ◽

Open Cycle

Gas turbines in combination with a nuclear heat source have been subject for study for some years. This paper is a logical follow up on previous papers regarding small scale nuclear power generation using gas turbines with a well-proven, inherently safe nuclear heat source. In the Netherlands the NEREUS project has been working on this concept since 1993. The acronym NEREUS describes very well the goals of this project. (Ref 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). NEREUS stands for: a Natural safe, Efficient, Reactor, Easy to operate, Ultimately simple and Small. Current studies focus on the gas turbine part of the installation. After three years of studying the possibilities of the closed cycle helium gas turbine, the NEREUS project returned in 2000 to its original thought of using an existing open-cycle gas turbine or components of such an engine, as energy conversion unit. The paper starts with an introduction on why nuclear power should get more attention, basically explaining “the reasons why” of the NEREUS project. Secondly the paper gives an overview of the main characteristics of the nuclear heat source. Thirdly the paper will discuss the current study to determine the specifications of an open-cycle gas turbine for the NEREUS installation. Attention is given to the way such an open-cycle gas turbine can be controlled. The nuclear heat source is controlled by the laws of physics and it is not recommended to intervene under any circumstances with this very important safety feature.

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