Operational Results of a Closed Brayton Cycle Test-Loop

Wright, Steven A.; Fuller, Robert L.; Lipinski, Ronald J.; Nichols, K.E.; Brown, Nicholas R.

doi:10.1063/1.1867189

Cited by 13 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 2 publications

(8 reference statements)

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“…2. Contemporary MGT rotors present a practical TIT of approximately 900 C [11,12]. In contemporary solar air receivers, outlet temperatures of up to 950 C [10] can be achieved.…”

Section: Open-cyclementioning

confidence: 99%

“…As discussed in previous sections, typical MGT systems are limited to a maximum TIT of approximately 900 C [11,12] by material constraints, while commercially available recuperators present maximum inlet temperatures of 780 C [12]. Contemporary solar air receivers can reach sustained outlet temperatures of up to 950 C [10]; however, a design outlet temperature of 800 C has been chosen in order to keep the cost of the solar equipment at reasonable levels.…”

Section: Power Plant Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Micro Gas-Turbine Design for Small-Scale Hybrid Solar Power Plants

Aichmayer¹,

Spelling²,

Laumert³

et al. 2013

Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power

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Hybrid solar micro gas-turbines are a promising technology for supplying controllable low-carbon electricity in off-grid regions. A thermoeconomic model of three different hybrid micro gas-turbine power plant layouts has been developed, allowing their environmental and economic performance to be analyzed. In terms of receiver design, it was shown that the pressure drop is a key criterion. However, for recuperated layouts, the combined pressure drop of the recuperator and receiver is more important. In terms of both electricity costs and carbon emissions, the internally-fired recuperated micro gasturbine was shown to be the most promising solution of the three configurations evaluated. Compared to competing diesel generators, the electricity costs from hybrid solar units are between 10% and 43% lower, while specific CO 2 emissions are reduced by 20-35%. Downloaded From: http://gasturbinespower.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/ on 05/24/2015 Terms of Use: http://asme.org/terms

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“…2. Contemporary MGT rotors present a practical TIT of approximately 900 C [11,12]. In contemporary solar air receivers, outlet temperatures of up to 950 C [10] can be achieved.…”

Section: Open-cyclementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Power Plant Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micro Gas-Turbine Design for Small-Scale Hybrid Solar Power Plants

Aichmayer¹,

Spelling²,

Laumert³

et al. 2013

Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power

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“…The dynamic model was calibrated with the open-cycle performance of the turbomachinery hardware, as reported in a companion paper by Wright et al (2005). The predicted behavior during startup is shown in Figures 10 and 11.…”

Section: Dynamic Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

A Gas-Cooled-Reactor Closed-Brayton-Cycle Demonstration with Nuclear Heating

Lipinski

Wright

Dorsey

et al. 2005

AIP Conference Proceedings

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A gas-cooled reactor may be coupled directly to turbomachinery to form a closed-Brayton-cycle (CBC) system in which the CBC working fluid serves as the reactor coolant. Such a system has the potential to be a very simple and robust space-reactor power system. Gas-cooled reactors have been built and operated in the past, but very few have been coupled directly to the turbomachinery in this fashion. In this paper we describe the option for testing such a system with a small reactor and turbomachinery at Sandia National Laboratories. Sandia currently operates the Annular Core Research Reactor (ACRR) at steady-state powers up to 4 MW and has an adjacent facility with heavy shielding in which another reactor recently operated. Sandia also has a closed-Brayton-cycle test bed with a converted commercial turbomachinery unit that is rated for up to 30 kWe of power. It is proposed to construct a small experimental gas-cooled reactor core and attach this via ducting to the CBC turbomachinery for cooling and electricity production. Calculations suggest that such a unit could produce about 20 kWe, which would be a good power level for initial surface power units on the Moon or Mars. The intent of this experiment is to demonstrate the stable start-up and operation of such a system. Of particular interest is the effect of a negative temperature power coefficient as the initially cold Brayton gas passes through the core during startup or power changes. Sandia's dynamic model for such a system would be compared with the performance data. This paper describes the neutronics, heat transfer, and cycle dynamics of this proposed system. Safety and radiation issues are presented. The views expressed in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect agreement by the government.

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“…The dynamic modeling effort has been very useful in supporting this LDRD effort and in supporting related development of space nuclear power systems (Wright, et al, 2005) because there is very little experience in coupling nuclear reactors to closed Brayton cycle gas power conversion systems. A number of gas-cooled reactors have been coupled to coolant circulators, but only the ML-1 reactor (Brunhouse and Titus, 1961) has been coupled directly to a closed-loop Brayton-cycle.…”

Section: Dynamic Model Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%