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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

GT-MHR operations and control

Conference ·
OSTI ID:10103027
The Gas Turbine Modular Helium Reactor (GT-MHR) combines features that lead to high thermal efficiencies, cycle simplicity, enhanced safety, and improved economics. It uses a high thermal capacity nuclear core that operates at high temperatures, and a Brayton energy conversion cycle. The high temperature helium from the reactor directly drives a gas turbine and electric generator, which is a process that can achieve a net efficiency in the range of 45% to 48%. Characteristics of the GT-MHR that are particularly important to the development of operation and control schemes for the GT-MHR include the thermal capacity of the core, excess reactivity, negative temperature coefficient of reactivity effects (provided by the fuel and the graphite moderator), Xenon reactivity effects (particularly important for large amplitude power reductions), the inertia of the turbogenerator, the speed of response of the valves that allow helium to be diverted around the core and the turbine for fast power reductions, the rate of helium transfer in and out of the system to accommodate longer term part load operating conditions, and the operating envelopes specified for systems and components. Together, these characteristics and specifications determine time and amplitude response capabilities, and the operating range of the GT-MHR. GT-MHR operation and control schemes must comply with utility requirements, particularly load following requirements, be compatible with GT-MHR characteristics, and lead to compliance with system and component operating limits.
Research Organization:
General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-89SF17885
OSTI ID:
10103027
Report Number(s):
GA-A--21894; CONF-9411153--1; ON: DE95003378
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English