Description, Output and Development Prospects of a 750 C Helium Direct Cycle Nuclear Power Plant With a Single Turbomachine and Intermediate Cooling

Abstract

The concept of a helium cycle nuclear power plant with a single turbomachine located outside the P.C.R.V. in a leaktight basement is being studied. Main features of the system are pointed out, as are the favorable aspects it offers for a satisfactory design of the plant, a high safety level, a good efficiency for electricity generation associated with a dry cooling tower and heat recovery in good conditions for heating or industrial purposes. Above all, the high technological credibility due to the temperature of 750 C is worth being emphasized. In this paper, a 750 C/800 MWe power plant (2000 MWt) with one intercooler is presented as an example of a possible first generation of gas turbine HTGR. Development prospects for higher power levels, 1000/2000 MWe, are also investigated, at first with one but also with two intermediate coolers, taking into consideration the somewhat higher-helium temperature. The net plant efficiencies, for electricity generation only, range from 40 to 45 percent.

Closed-Cycle Gas Turbine Working Fluids

“…An increase in tube wall thickness by a factor as much as 1.9 is required when air working fluid is used instead of helium in a radiant furnace system. 6. In this paper, only the characteristic requirements and the effects of the working fluids on the CCGT cycle performance and the various component designs were covered.…”

“…5), and France (Ref. 6) on utilizing helium gas turbines for high-temperature, gas-cooled reactors (HTGR). A fossil-fueled pilot helium CCGT powerplant was completed in 1976 and has since been in operation in Germany (Ref.…”