Carbon-Carbon Composites as Recuperator Material for Direct Gas Brayton Systems

Technical Report · Wed Jul 19 00:00:00 EDT 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/884666· OSTI ID:884666

Wolf, RA

Of the numerous energy conversion options available for a space nuclear power plant (SNPP), one that shows promise in attaining reliable operation and high efficiency is the direct gas Brayton (GB) system. In order to increase efficiency, the GB system incorporates a recuperator that accounts for nearly half the weight of the energy conversion system (ECS). Therefore, development of a recuperator that is lighter and provides better performance than current heat exchangers could prove to be advantageous. The feasibility of a carbon-carbon (C/C) composite recuperator core has been assessed and a mass savings of 60% and volume penalty of 20% were projected. The excellent thermal properties, high-temperature capabilities, and low density of carbon-carbon materials make them attractive in the GB system, but development issues such as material compatibility with other structural materials in the system, such as refractory metals and superalloys, permeability, corrosion, joining, and fabrication must be addressed.

• Research Organization: Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory (BAPL), West Mifflin, PA
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC12-00SN39357
• OSTI ID: 884666
• Report Number(s): B-MT(SPME)-20; TRN: US0604267
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
42 ENGINEERING
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
BUILDING MATERIALS
COMPATIBILITY
CORROSION
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY CONVERSION
FABRICATION
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT RESISTING ALLOYS
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
PERFORMANCE
PERMEABILITY
REFRACTORY METALS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
NRPCT