Nuclear energy is one of the possibilities ensuring energy security, environmental protection, and high energy efficiency. Among many newest solutions, special attention is paid to the medium size high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGR) with wide possible applications in electric energy production and district heating systems. Actual progress can be observed in the literature and especially in new projects. The maximum outlet temperature of helium as the reactor cooling gas is about 1000 °C which results in the relatively low energy efficiency of the cycle not greater than 40–45% in comparison to 55–60% of modern conventional power plants fueled by natural gas or coal. A significant increase of energy efficiency of HTGR cycles can be achieved with the increase of helium temperature from the nuclear reactor using additional coolant heating even up to 1600 °C in heat exchanger/gas burner located before gas turbine. In this paper, new solution with additional coolant heating is presented. Thermodynamic analysis of the proposed solution with a comparison to the classical HTGR cycle will be presented showing a significant increase of energy efficiency up to about 66%.
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February 2018
Research-Article
Thermodynamic Analysis of Power Generation Cycles With High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Nuclear Reactor and Additional Coolant Heating Up to 1600 °C
Michał Dudek,
Michał Dudek
Department of Fundamental Research in Energy
Engineering,
AGH—University of Science and Technology,
Kraków 30-059, Poland
e-mail: michald@agh.edu.pl
Engineering,
AGH—University of Science and Technology,
Kraków 30-059, Poland
e-mail: michald@agh.edu.pl
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Zygmunt Kolenda,
Zygmunt Kolenda
Department of Fundamental Research in Energy
Engineering,
AGH—University of Science and Technology,
Kraków 30-059, Poland
e-mail: kolenda@agh.edu.pl
Engineering,
AGH—University of Science and Technology,
Kraków 30-059, Poland
e-mail: kolenda@agh.edu.pl
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Marek Jaszczur,
Marek Jaszczur
Department of Fundamental Research in Energy
Engineering,
AGH—University of Science and Technology,
Kraków 30-059, Poland
e-mail: jaszczur@agh.edu.pl
Engineering,
AGH—University of Science and Technology,
Kraków 30-059, Poland
e-mail: jaszczur@agh.edu.pl
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Wojciech Stanek
Wojciech Stanek
Institute of Thermal Technology,
Silesian University of Technology,
Gliwice 44-100, Poland
e-mail: wojciech.stanek@polsl.pl
Silesian University of Technology,
Gliwice 44-100, Poland
e-mail: wojciech.stanek@polsl.pl
Search for other works by this author on:
Michał Dudek
Department of Fundamental Research in Energy
Engineering,
AGH—University of Science and Technology,
Kraków 30-059, Poland
e-mail: michald@agh.edu.pl
Engineering,
AGH—University of Science and Technology,
Kraków 30-059, Poland
e-mail: michald@agh.edu.pl
Zygmunt Kolenda
Department of Fundamental Research in Energy
Engineering,
AGH—University of Science and Technology,
Kraków 30-059, Poland
e-mail: kolenda@agh.edu.pl
Engineering,
AGH—University of Science and Technology,
Kraków 30-059, Poland
e-mail: kolenda@agh.edu.pl
Marek Jaszczur
Department of Fundamental Research in Energy
Engineering,
AGH—University of Science and Technology,
Kraków 30-059, Poland
e-mail: jaszczur@agh.edu.pl
Engineering,
AGH—University of Science and Technology,
Kraków 30-059, Poland
e-mail: jaszczur@agh.edu.pl
Wojciech Stanek
Institute of Thermal Technology,
Silesian University of Technology,
Gliwice 44-100, Poland
e-mail: wojciech.stanek@polsl.pl
Silesian University of Technology,
Gliwice 44-100, Poland
e-mail: wojciech.stanek@polsl.pl
Contributed by the Advanced Energy Systems Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESOURCES TECHNOLOGY. Manuscript received February 1, 2017; final manuscript received January 6, 2018; published online January 22, 2018. Assoc. Editor: Tatiana Morosuk.
J. Energy Resour. Technol. Feb 2018, 140(2): 020910 (7 pages)
Published Online: January 22, 2018
Article history
Received:
February 1, 2017
Revised:
January 6, 2018
Citation
Dudek, M., Kolenda, Z., Jaszczur, M., and Stanek, W. (January 22, 2018). "Thermodynamic Analysis of Power Generation Cycles With High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Nuclear Reactor and Additional Coolant Heating Up to 1600 °C." ASME. J. Energy Resour. Technol. February 2018; 140(2): 020910. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4038930
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