MultiplereheatheliumBraytoncyclesforsodiumcooledfastreactorsOriginalResearchArticle

Sodiumcooledfastreactors(SFR)traditionallyadoptthesteamRankinecycleforpowerconversion.Theresultingpotentialforwater–sodiumreactionremainsacontinuingconcernwhichatleastpartlydelaystheSFRtechnologycommercializationandisacontributortohighercapitalcost.SupercriticalCO2providesanalternative,butisalsocapableofsustainingenergeticchemicalreactionswithsodium.Recentdevelopmentofadvancedinert-gasBraytoncyclescouldpotentiallysolvethiscompatibilityissue,increasethermalefficiency,andbringdownthecapitalcostsufficientlytocompetedirectlywithlightwaterreactors.Inthispaper,heliumBraytoncycleswithmultiplereheatandintercoolingstatesarepresentedforSFRswithreactoroutlettemperaturesintherangeof510–650°C.Theresultingthermalefficienciesrangefrom39%to47%,whichiscomparablewithsupercriticalrecompressionCO2cycles(SCO2cycle).AsystematiccomparisonbetweenthemultiplereheatheliumBraytoncycleandtheSCO2cycleisgiven,consideringcompatibilityissues,plantsitecoolingtemperatureeffectonplantefficiency,fullplantcostoptimization,andotherimportantfactors.ThestudyindicatesthatthemultiplereheatheliumcycleisthepreferredchoiceoverSCO2cycleforsodiumcooledfastreactors.