Combined cycles-coupled high-temperature and very high-temperature gas-cooled reactors: Part II - Engineering design

Next generation nuclear power plant concepts, such as the high-temperature and very high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, have significant potential for addressing ever growing energy needs, but their implementation must first overcome several engineering limitations. Accordingly, based on the theoretical optimization performed in the Part I of this study, the parameters of combined cycle-coupled high-temperature and very high-temperature gas-cooled reactors were evaluated with the consideration of current engineering limitations including the compressor pressure ratio, reactor inlet temperature, turbine blade cooling, main steam parameters, and exhaust humidity of the steam turbine. Four different combined cycles were then designed and compared with respect to these five parameters. The resulting design values were also compared to the theoretical optimization values in Part I of this paper, revealing that the ratio of the design value to the theoretical value decreased with increasing reactor outlet temperature. The comparison also suggested that the combined cycle-coupled very high-temperature gas-cooled reactor has significant potential, as its cycle efficiency could be further improved once the identified engineering restrictions are overcome. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.