High efficiency Brayton cycles using LNG

Patent · Tue Apr 18 04:00:00 EDT 2006

OSTI ID:908526

Morrow, Charles W ^[1]

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1. Albuquerque, NM

A modified, closed-loop Brayton cycle power conversion system that uses liquefied natural gas as the cold heat sink media. When combined with a helium gas cooled nuclear reactor, achievable efficiency can approach 68 76% (as compared to 35% for conventional steam cycle power cooled by air or water). A superheater heat exchanger can be used to exchange heat from a side-stream of hot helium gas split-off from the primary helium coolant loop to post-heat vaporized natural gas exiting from low and high-pressure coolers. The superheater raises the exit temperature of the natural gas to close to room temperature, which makes the gas more attractive to sell on the open market. An additional benefit is significantly reduced costs of a LNG revaporization plant, since the nuclear reactor provides the heat for vaporization instead of burning a portion of the LNG to provide the heat.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM
• Sponsoring Organization: United States Department of Energy
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
• Patent Number(s): 7,028,481
• Application Number: 10/965,577
• OSTI ID: 908526
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS