Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

THE ORNL GCR-3, A 750 Mw(e) GAS-COOLED CLAD-FUEL REACTOR POWER PLANT

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4666159

>An advanced, gas-cooled, clad-fuel reactor power plant to generate 750 Mw of electricity was designed as a study of the potential capability of that system. The graphitemoderated reactor generates 1908 Mw of heat in 1062 fuel channels 21 it long for a power density of 5.5 kw/liter. Gas temperatures entering and leaving the reactor are 574 and 1150 deg F, respectively, operating at 720 psia. Steam at 2415 psia and 950 deg F with reheat to 1000 deg F droves a 763Mw(e) turbogenerator and also four 31,000-hp blower drive turbines and the boiler feed pumps. Net thermal efficiency of the plant is 39.4%. Estimated direct cost of construction is 0,267,000, or 7 per kilowatt net electric output. Fuel-cycle costs at 20,000 Mwd per metric ton of uranium are 1.46 mills/ kwhr, operating and maintenance costs are 0.39 mill, and fixed charges range from 1.80 to 4.52 mills, depending on method of financing. Total power generation costs at an 80% load iactor range from 3.65 to 6.50 mills/ kwhr. (auth)

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
NSA Number:
NSA-17-033305
OSTI ID:
4666159
Report Number(s):
CONF-39-49
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English