High efficiency Brayton cycles using LNG
Abstract
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.
- Inventors:
-
- Albuquerque, NM
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 908526
- Patent Number(s):
- 7028481
- Application Number:
- 10/965,577
- Assignee:
- Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F02 - COMBUSTION ENGINES F02C - GAS-TURBINE PLANTS
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21D - NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 03 NATURAL GAS
Citation Formats
Morrow, Charles W. High efficiency Brayton cycles using LNG. United States: N. p., 2006.
Web.
Morrow, Charles W. High efficiency Brayton cycles using LNG. United States.
Morrow, Charles W. Tue .
"High efficiency Brayton cycles using LNG". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/908526.
@article{osti_908526,
title = {High efficiency Brayton cycles using LNG},
author = {Morrow, Charles W},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Apr 18 00:00:00 EDT 2006},
month = {Tue Apr 18 00:00:00 EDT 2006}
}
Works referenced in this record:
On Synergy Between a High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor and a LNG Vaporization Plant
conference, November 2008
- Morrow, Charles W.
- 12th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering, Volume 1