Off-design performance research of an axial helium compressor for HTGR-10 power conversion unit

Abstract

Helium compressor is a determining part of the power conversion unit (PCU) which is used in high-temperature gas cooled reactor (HTGR). A direct Helium Brayton cycle is applied to the PCU system for the power conversion. In order to optimize the compressor design, a performance test about helium compressor is given out to verify the CFD results. Also because of the strong relevancy between helium compressor and the other parts of the PCU system, it is quite important for designers to evaluate the performance of a helium compressor in different operational states. Tests have been carried out in different operating conditions and the compressor performance characteristics were obtained. Numerical simulation could help to further the understanding the details of compressor's flow channel and blades. Meanwhile, an economic method with air as the working fluid to perform the aerodynamic design and optimization of helium compressor is obtained. The experimental results showed that as long as the air flow conditions are correctly selected, the aerodynamic design of air compressor will be a valuable reference for the design of helium compressor.