The intercooled cycle (IC) as an alternative to the simple cycle recuperated (SCR) and intercooled cycle recuperated (ICR) is yet to be fully analyzed for the purpose of assessing its viability for utilization within Generation IV nuclear power plants (NPPs). Although the benefits are not explicitly obvious, it offers the advantage of a very high overall pressure ratio (OPR) in the absence of a recuperator. Thus, the main objective of this study is to analyze various pressure ratio configurations, the effects of varying pressure ratio including sensitivity analyses of component efficiencies, ambient temperature, component losses and pressure losses on cycle efficiency, and specific work of the IC, including comparison with the SCR and ICR. Results of comparison between the IC and the SCR and ICR derived that the cycle efficiencies are greater than the IC by (SCR) and (ICR), respectively. However, the pressure losses for IC are lower when compared with the SCR and ICR. Nonetheless, heat from the turbine exit temperature of the IC can be used in a processing plant including the possibility of higher turbine entry temperatures (TETs) to significantly increase the cycle efficiency in a bid to justify the business case. The analyses intend to bring to attention an alternative to current cycle configurations for the gas-cooled fast reactors (GFRs) and very-high-temperature reactors (VHTRs), where helium is the coolant. The findings are summarized by evaluating the chosen pressure ratio configurations against critical parameters and detailed comparison with the SCR and ICR.
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January 2017
Research Papers
Analyses of a High Pressure Ratio Intercooled Direct Brayton Helium Gas Turbine Cycle for Generation IV Reactor Power Plants
A. Gad-Briggs,
A. Gad-Briggs
Gas Turbine Engineering Group,
e-mail: a.a.gadbriggs@cranfield.ac.uk
Cranfield University
, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL
, U.K.
e-mail: a.a.gadbriggs@cranfield.ac.uk
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P. Pilidis,
P. Pilidis
Gas Turbine Engineering Group,
Cranfield University,
e-mail: p.pilidis@cranfield.ac.uk
Cranfield University,
Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL
, U.K.
e-mail: p.pilidis@cranfield.ac.uk
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T. Nikolaidis
T. Nikolaidis
Gas Turbine Engineering Group,
e-mail: t.nikolaidis@cranfield.ac.uk
Cranfield University
, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL
, U.K.
e-mail: t.nikolaidis@cranfield.ac.uk
Search for other works by this author on:
A. Gad-Briggs
Gas Turbine Engineering Group,
e-mail: a.a.gadbriggs@cranfield.ac.uk
Cranfield University
, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL
, U.K.
e-mail: a.a.gadbriggs@cranfield.ac.uk
P. Pilidis
Gas Turbine Engineering Group,
Cranfield University,
e-mail: p.pilidis@cranfield.ac.uk
Cranfield University,
Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL
, U.K.
e-mail: p.pilidis@cranfield.ac.uk
T. Nikolaidis
Gas Turbine Engineering Group,
e-mail: t.nikolaidis@cranfield.ac.uk
Cranfield University
, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL
, U.K.
e-mail: t.nikolaidis@cranfield.ac.uk
Manuscript received March 22, 2016; final manuscript received August 05, 2016; published online December 20, 2016. Assoc. Editor: Yasuo Koizumi.
ASME J of Nuclear Rad Sci. Jan 2017, 3(1): 011021 (8 pages)
Published Online: December 20, 2016
Article history
Received:
March 22, 2016
Revision Received:
August 5, 2016
Accepted:
August 5, 2016
Citation
Gad-Briggs, A., Pilidis, P., and Nikolaidis, T. (December 20, 2016). "Analyses of a High Pressure Ratio Intercooled Direct Brayton Helium Gas Turbine Cycle for Generation IV Reactor Power Plants." ASME. ASME J of Nuclear Rad Sci. January 2017; 3(1): 011021. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4034479
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