The gas turbine-modular helium reactor (GT-MHR), high efficiency, cost competitive, nuclear energy for the next century

Conference · Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:10161171

Zgliczynski, J B; Silady, F A; Neylan, A J

The Gas Turbine-Modular Helium Reactor (GT-MHR) is the result of coupling the evolution of a small passively safe reactor with key technology developments in the US during the last decade: large industrial gas turbines, large active magnetic bearings, and compact, highly effective plate-fin heat exchangers. The GT-MHR is the only reactor concept which provides a step increase in economic performance combined with increased safety. This is accomplished through its unique utilization of the Brayton cycle to produce electricity directly with the high temperature helium primary coolant from the reactor directly driving the gas turbine electrical generator. This cannot be accomplished with another reactor concept. It retains the high levels of passive safety and the standardized modular design of the steam cycle MHTGR, while showing promise for a significant reduction in power generating costs by increasing plant net efficiency to a remarkable 47%.

• Research Organization: General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-89SF17885
• OSTI ID: 10161171
• Report Number(s): GA-A-21610; CONF-9404108-3; ON: DE94014058; BR: 35AF20101/35AF20102; TRN: 94:013601
• Resource Relation: Conference: American Nuclear Society (ANS) topical meeting on LWR fuel performance,Pittsburgh, PA (United States),17-21 Apr 1994; Other Information: PBD: Apr 1994
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
HTGR TYPE REACTORS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
REACTOR SAFETY
DESIGN
COST
EFFICIENCY
COATED FUEL PARTICLES
HELIUM
COOLANTS
GRAPHITE
REACTOR CORES
REACTIVITY
AFTER-HEAT REMOVAL
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
POWER GENERATION
220900
210300
POWER REACTORS
NONBREEDING
GRAPHITE MODERATED