CSU Lecture on Thorium –LFR NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Space & Terrestrial Power System Integration Optimization Code BRMAPS for Gas Turbine Space Power Plants

With Nuclear Reactor Heat Sources

(Theme for Advanced Nuclear Power Plant Lectures at CSU–Spring ’07)

by Dr. Albert J. Juhasz

In view of the difficult times the US and global economies are experiencing today, funds for the development of advanced fission reactors nuclear power systems for space propulsion and planetary surface applications are currently not available. However, according to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 the U.S. needs to invest in developing fission reactor technology for ground based terrestrial power plants. Such plants would make a significant contribution toward drastic reduction of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions and associated global warming. To accomplish this goal the “Next Generation Nuclear Plant Project” (NGNP) has been established by DOE under the “Generation IV Nuclear Systems Initiative”. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) was designated as the lead in the development of VHTR (Very High Temperature Reactor) and HTGR (High Temperature Gas Reactor) technology to be integrated with MMW (multi-megawatt) helium gas turbine driven electric power AC generators. However, the advantages of transmitting power in high voltage DC form over large distances are also explored in the seminar lecture series.. As an attractive alternate heat source the “Liquid Fluoride Reactor” (LFR), pioneered at ORNL (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) in the mid 1960’s, would offer much higher energy yields than current nuclear plants by using an inherently safe energy conversion scheme based on the Thorium --> U233 fuel cycle and a fission process with a negative temperature coefficient of reactivity. The power plants are to be sized to meet electric power demand during peak periods and also for providing thermal energy for hydrogen (H2) production during "off peak" periods. This approach will both supply electric power by using environmentally clean nuclear heat which does not generate green house gases, and also provide a clean fuel H2 for the future, when, due to increased global demand and the decline in discovering new deposits, our supply of liquid fossil fuels will have been used up. This is expected within the next 30 to 50 years, as predicted by the Hubbert model and confirmed by other global energy consumption prognoses. Having invested national resources into the development of NGNP, the technology and experience accumulated during the project needs to be documented clearly and in sufficient detail for young engineers coming on-board at both DOE and NASA to acquire it. Hands on training on reactor operation, test rigs of turbomachinery, and heat exchanger components, as well as computational tools will be needed. Senior scientist/engineers involved with the development of NGNP should also be encouraged to participate as lecturers, instructors, or adjunct professors at local universities having engineering (mechanical, electrical, nuclear/chemical, and/or materials) as one of their fields of study.

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ap

15G

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ld

Isen

trop

ic C

ompr

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A fu

nctio

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pre

ssur

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tio, γ

, ηpc

()

()

PC

ICOCICOC

C

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ηγγ

γγ

η11

−−

⎟⎟ ⎠⎞⎜⎜ ⎝⎛

⎟⎟ ⎠⎞⎜⎜ ⎝⎛

=

Isen

trop

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-η t

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, ηpt

()

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−

⎟⎟ ⎠⎞⎜⎜ ⎝⎛

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−=

1

1

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OTIT

OTIT

t

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is p

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17G

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r at L

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ld

Isen

tropi

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ffici

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for C

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nd T

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as a

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ssur

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atio

for v

ario

us In

finite

sim

al S

tage

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es(E

TAPC

and

ETA

PT)

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0.85

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0.75

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0.9 0.85 0.8

18G

lenn

Res

earc

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r at L

ewis

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19G

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Res

earc

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r at L

ewis

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ld

Influ

ence

of R

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ess

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Effi

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le T

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f 3.0

and

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0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

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0.40

0.45

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cle Pr

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0.50

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0

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

0.35

0.40 1.0

02.0

03.0

04.0

05.0

0Cy

cle Pr

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666

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==

=γ

ηη

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20G

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ener

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s vs

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s w

ith

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as

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for H

e W

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/sq.

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= 5

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0 0

=

284.

2 “

“◊◊

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ffect

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Specific Mass –kg/(kg/sec)

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Tem

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40.0

45.0

50.0

55.0

60.0

65.0

70.0

75.0

80.0

85.0

90.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

Cycle

Tem

perat

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atio

Mass in TonnesTI

T=11

00 K

TIT=

1200

KTI

T=13

50 K

TIT=

1600

KM

in. Lo

cus

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50.0

55.0

60.0

65.0

70.0

75.0

80.0

85.0

90.0

0.20.2

50.3

0.35

0.40.4

5

Cycle

The

rmal

Effic

iency

Mass - Metric TonsTIT

= 1

100

K

TIT =

120

0 K

TIT =

135

0 K

TIT =

160

0 K

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Mas

s Lo

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23G

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nn

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n

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ld

Bra

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le M

app

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ycle

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RC

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earc

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ente

r at L

ewis

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Th

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l Bas

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or S

pac

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nal

ysis

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SCA

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oped

by

auth

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28G

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earc

h C

ente

r at L

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ld

Sol

ar F

usio

n E

nerg

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ener

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n vi

a P

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n-P

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n C

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n

1.1 1H

+ 1 1H

2 1H

+ e

++ ν(

neut

rino)

(0.4

2 M

eV)

2.e+

+ e

-γ

(rad

iatio

n)(1

.02

MeV

)3.

1 1H +

2 1H

3 2H

e +

γ(5

.49

MeV

)4.

3 2He

+ 3 2H

e 4 2H

e +

1 1H +

1 1H

(1

2.86

MeV

)N

et E

ffect

: 4

1 1H

4 2He

+ 2

e++

2 ν

4*1.

0078

265

u =

4.0

0260

3 u

+ (2

e+

+ 2ν

+ 2 γ

+ 12

.86

MeV

)To

tal E

nerg

y G

ener

ated

–E

= m

*c2

Et=

(4.0

3130

08 –

4.00

2603

) u *

1.6

6*10

-27

kg/u

* (3

*108

m/s

ec)2

= 2

6.76

MeV

/p-p

cyc

lew

hich

che

cks Σ

reac

tion

step

ene

rgie

s, E

RS

ER

S=

2*(0

.42

MeV

+1.

02 M

eV +

5.4

9 M

eV) +

12.

86 M

eV =

26.

76 M

eV/p

-pS

olar

Lum

inos

ity, L

, is

due

to 9

*103

7 p-

p cy

c/se

cL

= 26

.76

MeV

*1.6

02*1

0-13

J/M

eV *

9*1

037 /s

ec =

3.8

6*10

26 W

atts

Sol

ar M

ass

Loss

(4.0

3130

08 –

4.00

2603

) u*1

.66*

10-2

7kg

/u *

9*10

37/s

ec =

4.3

*109

kg/s

ec=

4.3

Milli

on to

nnes

/sec

29G

lenn

Res

earc

h C

ente

r at L

ewis

Fie

ld

Sol

ar a

nd A

rbitr

ary

Infra

red

Spe

ctra

05. 1

07

1. 1

06

1.5. 1

06

2. 1

06

0

2. 1

013

4. 1

013

6. 1

013

8. 1

013

1. 1

014

Wav

elen

gth

mu

- met

ers

Radiation Intensity - Watts/m*2 mu

Iλ

5780

,(

)

Iλ

3500

,(

)

410

7−

⋅7

107

−⋅

λ

Vis

ible

Ran

ge

Sola

r Spe

ctru

m

Infr

ared

Spe

ctru

m

30G

lenn

Res

earc

h C

ente

r at L

ewis

Fie

ld

Equi

libriu

m T

empe

ratu

res,

TS(

K),

at V

ario

us A

U D

ista

nces

90.0

1

.0

.9

.9

2

1

.00

1

372.

5

386

M

oon

@ N

oon

Gle

nn R

esea

rch

Cen

ter a

t Lew

is F

ield

SUN

MER

CU

RY

9149

W /

m 2

448K

0.38

7 AU

EAR

TH13

71 W

/ m

2

279K

1 AU VE

NU

S26

20 W

/ m

2

328K

0.72

3 AU

MA

RS

591

W /

m 2

226K

1.53

AU

AS

TER

OID

S15

2 W

/ m

2

161K

~ 3

AU

JUP

ITE

R51

W /

m 2

122K

5.2

AU

SATU

RN

15 W

/ m

2

90K

9.54

AU

UR

ANU

S3.

7 W

/ m

2

64K

19.2

AU

NEP

TUN

E1.

5 W

/ m

2

51K

30.1

AU

PLU

TO0.

9 W

/ m

2

44K

39.4

4 A

U

Sola

r H

eat

Flu

x &

Sp

ace

Pro

be

Tem

per

atu

res

At

Var

iou

s O

rbit

al D

ista

nce

s (A

U)

A. J

uhas

z

NA

SA

GR

C.

10/3

1/03

32G

lenn

Res

earc

h C

ente

r at L

ewis

Fie

ld

Rad

iato

r Are

a R

equi

rem

ent f

or 3

00 k

WtH

eat L

oad

at A

vg. R

adia

tor S

urfa

ce T

empe

ratu

re =

390

K(θ

= 25

°; F

V =

1; α

/εra

ngin

g 0.

1 to

1.0

)

5010

015

020

025

030

035

025

0

300

350

400

450

500

550

Spac

e Si

nk T

empe

ratu

re -

K

Radiator Area in Square meters

RdA

R

138

325

Tsin

k

Jupi

ter O

rbit

AU

Earth

Orb

it A

U

KK

33G

lenn

Res

earc

h C

ente

r at L

ewis

Fie

ld

Spa

cecr

aft w

ith T

rape

zoid

al H

eat P

ipe

Rad

iato

r

Payl

oad

Rad

iato

r

Rea

ctor

Shie

ldTu

rbo-

Alte

rnat

ors

34G

lenn

Res

earc

h C

ente

r at L

ewis

Fie

ld

Ther

mal

Ene

rgy

Tran

sfer

in a

Hea

t Pip

e R

adia

tor

35G

lenn

Res

earc

h C

ente

r at L

ewis

Fie

ld

Rel

atio

nshi

ps R

esul

ting

from

Clo

sed

Bra

yton

Cyc

le A

naly

sis

()

()(

)(

)()

⎥⎥ ⎦⎤

⎢⎢ ⎣⎡

⎥⎥ ⎦⎤

⎢⎢ ⎣⎡⎟⎟ ⎠⎞

⎜⎜ ⎝⎛⋅

−⋅

⋅−

+⋅

−+

⋅−

⋅⋅

⋅⋅

+ ⎟⎟ ⎠⎞⎜⎜ ⎝⎛

−−⋅

⋅⋅

=−

−

swex

swin

sw

ins

wex

sw

exs

win

ss

wex

sw

in

rp

rTT

TTT

TT

TT

TT

T

TT

TT

Th

Cm

A1

1

34

4

44

tan

tan

2ln

4

1ln

1

εσ

()

()

RR

CC

CR

Tt

RR

CCt

C

Tb

th

εε

ηε

αη

εε

α

ηη

αη

η−

Θ+

Θ−

+−

+⎟⎟ ⎠⎞

⎜⎜ ⎝⎛Θ

−+

−

⎟⎟ ⎠⎞⎜⎜ ⎝⎛

Θ−

⎟⎟ ⎠⎞⎜⎜ ⎝⎛

Θ−

Θ

=1

11

11

1

1

Bray

ton

Cyc

le T

herm

al E

ffici

ency

whe

re

ΘC

= (P

OC

/ PIC

) (γ-1

)/γis

the

com

pres

sor p

ress

ure

ratio

par

amet

er

ΘT

= (P

IT/ P

OT)

(γ-1

)/γis

the

turb

ine

pres

sure

ratio

par

amet

er

Rad

iato

r Are

a

36G

lenn

Res

earc

h C

ente

r at L

ewis

Fie

ld

Dua

l Loo

p 20

0 M

We

Clo

sed

Cyc

le (H

e) G

as T

urbi

ne (C

CG

T)Po

wer

Sys

tem

with

Nuc

lear

Fus

ion

Rea

ctor

Hea

t Sou

rce

Sam

ple

Pow

er P

lant

Ana

lyze

dfo

r Lar

ge In

ter-

plan

etar

y S

pace

craf

t

37G

lenn

Res

earc

h C

ente

r at L

ewis

Fie

ld

Inte

rpla

neta

ry C

rew

Tra

nspo

rt V

ehic

le

Art

ific

ial G

ravi

ty

Cre

w P

aylo

ad

Bra

yton

Cyc

le

Rad

iato

rs

Rea

ctor

Coo

lant

Rad

iato

rs

Prop

ella

nt

Cry

o-T

anka

ge

Bra

yton

Pow

er C

onve

rsio

n

Sphe

rica

l Tor

us

Fus

ion

Rea

ctor

Mag

neti

c N

ozzl

e

90 m

40 m

37 m

24 m

25 m

240

m

60 m

38G

lenn

Res

earc

h C

ente

r at L

ewis

Fie

ld

Ad

van

ced

Pow

er S

yste

m A

pp

licat

ion

s

Luna

r Bas

e Po

wer

Sys

tem

Arti

ficia

l Gra

vity

Cr

ew P

aylo

ad

Bray

ton

Cycl

e Ra

diat

ors

Reac

tor C

oola

ntRa

diat

ors

Prop

ella

nt

Cryo

-Tan

kage

Bray

ton

Pow

er C

onve

rsio

n

Sphe

rical

Tor

us

Fus

ion

Reac

tor

Mag

netic

Noz

zle

90 m

40 m

37 m

24 m25 m

240

m

60 m

Inte

rplan

etar

y Fu

sion

Prop

ulsio

n Sp

ace

Veh

icle

39G

lenn

Res

earc

h C

ente

r at L

ewis

Fie

ld

For S

pace

Nuc

lear

Pow

ered

Mul

ti-M

egaw

att C

lose

d C

ycle

Gas

Tur

bine

(C

CG

T) S

yste

ms

with

Nuc

lear

can

ach

ieve

Spe

cific

Mas

s (S

PM

) < 5

kg/k

w

•B

y ut

ilizi

ng a

ircra

ft en

gine

axi

al c

ompr

esso

r/tur

bine

tech

nolo

gy–

Hig

her p

ress

ure

ratio

s al

low

rem

ovin

g he

avy

rege

nera

tor

–A

xial

turb

o-m

achi

nery

has

hig

her e

ffici

ency

than

radi

al–

Turb

ine

Inle

t tem

pera

ture

s (T

IT) c

an b

e in

crea

sed

to ~

1600

K u

sing

He

wor

king

flui

d an

d ce

ram

ic tu

rbin

e te

chno

logy

•U

sing

Hig

h Te

mpe

ratu

re G

as R

eact

ors

(HTG

R-V

HTR

) –

Dire

ct h

eatin

g of

He

wor

king

flui

d m

akes

hea

vy h

eat s

ourc

e liq

uid/

gas

heat

exc

hang

er a

nd li

quid

circ

ulat

ing

pum

p un

nece

ssar

y–

Hig

h TI

T pe

rmits

hig

h cy

cle

effic

ienc

y w

hile

per

mitt

ing

elev

ated

heat

re

ject

ion

tem

pera

ture

s, th

us re

duci

ng ra

diat

or a

rea

•B

y di

rect

coo

ling

of tu

rbin

e ex

haus

t gas

via

Hea

t Pip

e (H

P) R

adia

tor

–D

irect

coo

ling

of H

e w

orki

ng fl

uid

mak

es h

eavy

hea

t sin

k ga

s/liq

uid

heat

ex

chan

ger a

nd li

quid

circ

ulat

ing

pum

p un

nece

ssar

y–

Inhe

rent

redu

ndan

cy o

f HP

radi

ator

per

mits

redu

cing

radi

ator

spec

ific

mas

s w

hile

incr

easi

ng o

vera

ll sy

stem

relia

bilit

y•

Use

of a

ircra

ft en

gine

tech

nolo

gy (m

odifi

ed fo

r He

wor

king

flui

das

pe

r CFD

cod

es) l

ower

s de

velo

pmen

t cos

ts.

40G

lenn

Res

earc

h C

ente

r at L

ewis

Fie

ld

Terr

estri

al N

ucle

ar P

ower

Pla

nt w

. LFR

and

HP,

MP,

LP

Hea

t Exc

hang

ers

for R

ehea

t/Int

erco

ol B

rayt

on C

ycle

41G

lenn

Res

earc

h C

ente

r at L

ewis

Fie

ld

42G

lenn

Res

earc

h C

ente

r at L

ewis

Fie

ld

43G

lenn

Res

earc

h C

ente

r at L

ewis

Fie

ld

Thre

e S

tage

Reh

eat &

Inte

rcoo

l Bra

yton

Cyc

leTe

mpe

ratu

re –

Ent

ropy

Dia

gram

Entro

py –

J/kg

-K

Temp -K

Turb

ine

Out

let

Tem

p.

Turb

ine

Inle

t Tem

p

Com

pres

sor I

nlet

Tem

p.

Com

pres

sor O

utle

t Tem

p.

44G

lenn

Res

earc

h C

ente

r at L

ewis

Fie

ld

Pow

er C

ycle

Sch

emat

ic a

nd T

-S D

iagr

am fo

r Sin

gle

Exp

ansi

onIn

ter-

Coo

led

Trip

le C

ompr

essi

on S

yste

m

(Fru

tsch

i)

45G

lenn

Res

earc

h C

ente

r at L

ewis

Fie

ld

Typi

cal M

achi

ne S

izes

for 1

000

MW

e H

e P

lant

•S

ingl

e Tu

rbo-

Alt

at 1

0 M

P a

and

Pr=

2; (T

IT=1

200K

; TR

=4)

–M

ass

Flow

rate

~ 1

420

kg/s

ec–

Dia

. = 6

.5 m

; L =

~20

m; S

peed

= 1

800

rpm

–R

ecup

erat

or V

olum

e ~

360

m3

–Th

erm

al E

ff. =

48%

•Th

ree

Reh

eat/I

nter

cool

edTu

rbo-

Alt’

s–

Mas

s Fl

owra

te ~

474

kg/

sec

–P

=20

Mpa

(Pr=

2); D

ia=

1.9

m, L

= 4

.5m

, Spe

ed =

800

0 rp

m–

P=1

0 M

pa (P

r=2)

; Dia

= 2.

7 m

, L =

6.3

m, S

peed

= 5

670

rpm

–P

= 5

Mpa

(Pr=

2); D

ia=

3.8

m,

L =

8.5m

, Spe

ed =

400

0 rp

m–

Rec

uper

ator

Vol

ume

~ 12

0 m

3

–Th

erm

al E

ff. =

51.

5%

46G

lenn

Res

earc

h C

ente

r at L

ewis

Fie

ld

Typi

cal M

achi

ne S

izes

for 3

00 M

We

He

Pla

nt

•S

ingl

e Tu

rbo-

Alt

at 1

0 M

P a

and

Pr=

2; (T

IT=1

200K

; TR

=4)

–M

ass

Flow

rate

~ 4

34 k

g/se

c (O

ne 3

00 M

We

Turb

o-G

en.)

–D

ia. =

3.8

m; L

= ~

8.8

m; S

peed

= 3

600

rpm

–R

ecup

erat

or V

olum

e ~

96 m

3

–Th

erm

al E

ff. =

48%

•Th

ree

Reh

eat/I

nter

cool

edTu

rbo-

Alt’

s (T

IT=1

200K

; TR

=4)

–M

ass

Flow

rate

~ 1

42 k

g/se

c (T

hree

100

MW

e Tu

rbo-

Gen

s.)

–P

=20

Mpa

(Pr=

2); D

ia=

1.4

m, L

= 3

.3 m

, Spe

ed =

870

0 rp

m–

P=1

0 M

pa (P

r=2)

; Dia

= 1.

9 m

, L =

4.4

m, S

peed

= 6

200

rpm

–P

= 5

Mpa

(Pr=

2); D

ia=

2.7

m, L

= 6

.3 m

, Spe

ed =

436

0 rp

m–

Rec

uper

ator

Vol

ume

~ 34

m3

–Th

erm

al E

ff. =

51.

6%

47G

lenn

Res

earc

h C

ente

r at L

ewis

Fie

ld

Typi

cal M

achi

ne S

izes

for 1

50 M

We

He

Pla

nt

•S

ingl

e Tu

rbo-

Alt

at 1

0 M

Pa

and

Pr=

2; (T

IT=1

200K

; TR

=4)

–M

ass

Flow

rate

~ 2

17 k

g/se

c (O

ne 1

50 M

We

Turb

o-G

en.)

–D

ia. =

2.3

m; L

= ~

5.3

m; S

peed

= 5

040

rpm

–R

ecup

erat

or V

olum

e ~

48 m

3

–Th

erm

al E

ff. =

48.

4%

•Th

ree

Reh

eat/I

nter

cool

edTu

rbo-

Alt’

s (T

IT=1

200K

; TR

=4)

–M

ass

Flow

rate

~ 7

2 kg

/sec

(Thr

ee 5

0 M

We

Turb

o-G

ens.

)–

P=2

0 M

pa (P

r=2)

; Dia

= 0.

92 m

, L =

2.2

m, S

peed

= 1

2,50

0 rp

m–

P=1

0 M

pa (P

r=2)

; Dia

= 1.

30 m

, L =

3.0

m, S

peed

= 8

800

rpm

–P

= 5

Mpa

(Pr=

2); D

ia=

1.80

m, L

= 4

.2 m

, Spe

ed =

620

0 rp

m–

Rec

uper

ator

Vol

ume

~ 16

m3

–Th

erm

al E

ff. =

51.

6%

48G

lenn

Res

earc

h C

ente

r at L

ewis

Fie

ld

Typi

cal M

achi

ne S

izes

for 1

50 M

We

He

Pla

nt

•S

ingl

e Tu

rbo-

Alt

at 1

0 M

Pa

and

Pr=

2; (T

IT=1

300K

; TR

=4.3

33)

–M

ass

Flow

rate

~ 1

78 k

g/se

c (O

ne 1

50 M

We

Turb

o-G

en.)

–D

ia. =

2.2

m; L

= ~

5.1

m; S

peed

= 5

240

rpm

–R

ecup

erat

or V

olum

e ~

38 m

3

–Th

erm

al E

ff. =

51.

4%

•Th

ree

Reh

eat/I

nter

cool

edTu

rbo-

Alt’

s (T

IT=1

300K

; TR

=4.3

33)

–M

ass

Flow

rate

~ 5

9.5

kg/s

ec (T

hree

50

MW

e Tu

rbo-

Gen

s.)

–P

=20

Mpa

(Pr=

2); D

ia=

0.87

m, L

= 2

.0 m

, Spe

ed =

13,

150

rpm

–P

=10

Mpa

(Pr=

2); D

ia=

1.23

m, L

= 2

.9 m

, Spe

ed =

930

0 rp

m–

P=

5 M

pa (P

r=2)

; Dia

= 1.

74 m

, L =

4.0

m, S

peed

= 6

600

rpm

–R

ecup

erat

or V

olum

e ~

13.5

m3

–Th

erm

al E

ff. =

53.

7%

49G

lenn

Res

earc

h C

ente

r at L

ewis

Fie

ld

Ene

rgy

Ext

ract

ion

Com

paris

on fo

r U23

8an

d Th

232

Ura

nium

-fuel

ed li

ght-w

ater

reac

tor:

35

GW

*hr/M

T of

nat

ural

ura

nium

1000

MW

*yr

of e

lect

ricity

33%

con

vers

ion

effic

ienc

y (ty

pica

l st

eam

turb

ine)

3000

MW

*yr o

f th

erm

al e

nerg

y

32,0

00 M

W*d

ays/

MT

heav

y m

etal

(typ

ical

LW

R fu

el b

urnu

p)

39 M

T of

enr

iche

d (1

4.2%

) UO

2(3

5 M

T U

)

Con

vers

ion

and

fabr

icat

ion

365

MT

of n

atur

al

UF 6

(247

MT

U)

293

MT

of

natu

ral U

3O8

(248

MT

U)

Thor

ium

-fuel

ed li

quid

-fluo

ride

reac

tor:

11,

000

GW

*hr/M

T of

nat

ural

thor

ium

Con

vers

ion

to U

F6

1000

MW

*yr

of e

lect

ricity

50%

con

vers

ion

effic

ienc

y (tr

iple

-re

heat

clo

sed-

cycl

e he

lium

gas

-turb

ine)

2000

MW

*yr

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