The key role of heat exchangers in advanced gas-cooled reactor plants

Abstract

The use of helium as a nuclear reactor coolant has been successfully demonstrated in plants built and operated in the U.K., U.S.A., and Germany. Following the pioneering proof of principle plant, two small power plants were operated for several years and this led to the construction of two commercial power stations. For the next generation of gas-cooled reactors new criteria have been developed, namely, the plants will be smaller, simpler, safer and of lower cost. The base case Modular High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (MHTGR) utilizes existing technology to offer a tried and proven power generating plant using a conventional steam turbine power conversion system that could be in utility service just after the turn of the century. The capability of the MHTGR to operate at very high temperatures will be exploited early in the next century in the form of advanced variants to meet the needs of the power generation and process industries. A key component in the MHTGR is the heat exchanger, since this is where the reactor thermal energy is transferred to the prime-mover or process system. This paper addresses the various roles that heat exchangers will play in advanced MHTGRs, recognizing that the requirements for the steam cycle, gas turbine (direct- or indirect-cycle), and process heat reactor are unique. Topics include thermodynamic considerations, differing configurations, and construction types; materials (metals, composites, ceramics); germane technology bases; and advanced heat exchanger technologies.