Performance analysis of the temperature-upgraded flash-driven low-temperature advanced natural circulation heating reactor system

Abstract

To address the current deficiencies in outlet temperature and thermal power of low-temperature heating reactors while ensuring safety and economic viability, this study introduces the Temperature-Upgraded Flash-driven Low-temperature Advanced Natural Circulation Heating Reactor (TU-FLANC). The FLANC system innovatively utilizes the flashing phenomenon of the coolant in the rising channel to significantly increase the coolant circulation flow rate and thus enhance thermal power at atmospheric pressure. The TU system employs an Absorption Heat Pump (AHP) to upgrade the temperature of the reactor’s output heat. The two systems are interconnected via a Coupled System Heat Exchanger (CSHEX), achieving an upgrade in reactor thermal power and outlet temperature at atmospheric pressure. To evaluate the performance of the TU-FLANC system, a mathematical model of the system was established, and a computational program was developed. The impact of key parameters such as evaporator temperature, condenser temperature, and solution concentration on system performance was analyzed. The results indicate that the evaporator temperature and solution concentration have the most significant impact on the system’s coefficient of performance (COP) and the coefficient of performance considering pump work (COPW). Through Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm optimization, the optimal solution concentration combinations were determined to maximize COP and COPW under different temperature upgrade demands. For a temperature upgrade demand of 50 °C, the optimal solution concentration combinations are 40.02 % and 57.48 %, with corresponding COP and COPW values of 0.5282 and 0.4886, respectively. The research findings highlight the significant innovative potential of the TU-FLANC system in enhancing heat power and outlet temperature.