EFFECT OF VARIOUS CONTROL MODES ON THE STEADY-STATE FULL AND PART LOAD PERFORMANCE OF A DIRECT-CYCLE NUCLEAR GAS TURBINE POWER PLANT.

Abstract

The performance and principal operating characteristics of the Gas Turbine HTGR power plant are reported. The reference design of the dry cooled 1100-MW(e) power plant incorporates four helium gas turbine power conversion loops integrated into the prestressed concrete reactor vessel, which also contains the reactor and the entire primary coolant system. The reactor core is virtually the same as that for the comparable HTGR steam cycle and is operated with similar maximum fuel temperatures, resulting in a turbine inlet temperature of 1500F (816 C). An overall plant efficiency of about 37 percent is realized with a design point cycle pressure ratio of 2. 35 and with a high-effectiveness recuperator in each loop.