GAS-COOLED POWER REACTORS AND THEIR THERMAL FEATURES 1

Similar documents
GT-MHR OVERVIEW. Presented to IEEE Subcommittee on Qualification

The Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP)

Fast Reactor Operating Experience in the U.S.

EM 2 : Nuclear Power for the 21 st Century

HTR Research and Development Program in China

NUCLEAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND REACTORS - Vol. II - Advanced Gas Cooled Reactors - Tim McKeen

PRESENT STATUS OF THE HIGH TEMPERATURE ENGINEERING TEST REACTOR (HTTR)

REACTOR TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE HTTR PROJECT TAKAKAZU TAKIZUKA

UNIT-5 NUCLEAR POWER PLANT. Joining of light nuclei Is not a chain reaction. Cannot be controlled

Nuclear Reactor Types. An Environment & Energy FactFile provided by the IEE. Nuclear Reactor Types

International status of HTGRs

EM 2 : A Compact Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor for the 21 st Century. Climate Change and the Role of Nuclear Energy

Joint ICTP-IAEA Advanced School on the Role of Nuclear Technology in Hydrogen-Based Energy Systems June 2011

Modular Helium Reactor (MHR) for Oil Sands Extraction

Joint ICTP-IAEA Workshop on Nuclear Reaction Data for Advanced Reactor Technologies May 2008

HTR-PM Project Status and Test Program

Super Critical CO 2 Gas Turbine Cycle FBRs

Thermal Response of a High Temperature Reactor during Passive Cooldown under Pressurized and Depressurized Conditions

PREFACE COATED PARTICLE FUELS

The design features of the HTR-10

Module 11 High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactors (HTR)

VVER-440/213 - The reactor core

General Atomics Prismatic Modular High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor. Acronym Prismatic HTR. Reactor Type Gas-cooled Reactor.

Lecture (3) on. Nuclear Reactors. By Dr. Emad M. Saad. Mechanical Engineering Dept. Faculty of Engineering. Fayoum University

Nuclear Energy Revision Sheet

Module 11 High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactors (HTR)


4.2 DEVELOPMENT OF FUEL TEST LOOP IN HANARO

Module 09 High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactors (HTR)

The US Fast Breeder Reactor Development Programme

AREVA HTR Concept for Near-Term Deployment

Practical Aspects of Liquid-Salt-Cooled Fast-Neutron Reactors

A HELIUM COOLED PARTICLE FUEL REACTOR FOR FUEL SUSTAINABILITY. T D Newton, P J Smith and Y Askan SERCO Assurance, Winfrith, Dorset, England * Abstract

Very High Temperature Reactor

DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION FISSION REACTOR

REACTOR TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE HTTR PROJECT

AEN WPRS Sodium Fast Reactor Core Definitions (version 1.2 September 19 th )

IAEA Education and Training Seminar/Workshop on Fast Reactor Science and Technology

Thermal Fluid Characteristics for Pebble Bed HTGRs.

GENERATION IV NUCLEAR ENERGY SYSTEMS

System Analysis of Pb-Bi Cooled Fast Reactor PEACER

Gas Cooled Fast Reactors: recent advances and prospects

FIG. 1. Fort St. Vrain Nuclear Generation Station.

Workshop on PR&PP Evaluation Methodology for Gen IV Nuclear Energy Systems. Tokyo, Japan 22 February, Presented at

Molten Salt Reactor Technology for Thorium- Fueled Small Reactors

Evolution of Nuclear Energy Systems

Module 12 Generation IV Nuclear Power Plants. Atominstitute of the Austrian Universities Stadionallee 2, 1020 Vienna, Austria

An Introduction to the Engineering of Fast Nuclear Reactors

Present Status and Future Plan of HTTR Project

Challenges in Designing Fuel-Fired sco2 Heaters for Closed sco2 Brayton Cycle Power Plants

Very-High-Temperature Reactor System

The Advanced High-Temperature Reactor: High-Temperature Fuel, Molten Salt Coolant, and Liquid-Metal-Reactor Plant.

Scenarios of Heavy Beyond-Design-Basis Accidents in HTGRs N.G. Kodochigov, Yu.P. Sukharev

Oregon State University s Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Experimental Program

Power Stations Nuclear power stations

Advanced Reactor Technology

Electromagnetic flowmeter, 861 Electromagnetic pumps, 844 characteristics, 845 efficiency, 845 End blanket effects, 869 Energy costs, summary, 921 Eng

Trends in Transmutation Performance and Safety Parameters Versus TRU Conversion Ratio of Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactors

High Temperature GasCooled Reactors Lessons. Learned Applicable to the Next Generation Nuclear Plant. J. M. Beck C. B. Garcia L. F.

Nuclear power. ME922/927 Nuclear 1

X-energy Introduction

The Generation IV Gas Cooled Fast Reactor

LOS ALAMOS AQUEOUS TARGET/BLANKET SYSTEM DESIGN FOR THE ACCELERATOR TRANSMUTATION OF WASTE CONCEPT

Application of COMSOL Pipe Flow Module to Develop a High Flux Isotope Reactor System Loop Model

Transmutation of Transuranic Elements and Long Lived Fission Products in Fusion Devices Y. Gohar

The Gen IV Modular Helium Reactor

Concept and technology status of HTR for industrial nuclear cogeneration

The role of Thorium for facilitating large scale deployment of nuclear energy

TOPIC: KNOWLEDGE: K1.01 [2.5/2.5]

Supercritical Water Reactor Review Meeting. Materials Issues

Chapter 4 THE HIGH TEMPERATURE GAS COOLED REACTOR TEST MODULE CORE PHYSICS BENCHMARKS

Steady State Temperature Distribution Investigation of HTR Core

Non-destructive Evaluation of Irradiated Nuclear Fuels and Structural Components from Indian Reactors

Generation IV Water-Cooled Reactor Concepts

Generation IV Reactors

Development of a DesignStage PRA for the Xe-100

Design and Safety Aspect of Lead and Lead-Bismuth Cooled Long-Life Small Safe Fast Reactors for Various Core Configurations

Status report 96 - High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor - Pebble-Bed Module (HTR-PM)

Benchmark Specification for HTGR Fuel Element Depletion. Mark D. DeHart Nuclear Science and Technology Division Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Thermal and Stability Analyses on Supercritical Water-cooled Fast Reactor during Power-Raising Phase of Plant Startup

Chemical Engineering 693R

Physics Design of 600 MWth HTR & 5 MWth Nuclear Power Pack. Brahmananda Chakraborty Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, India

Irradiation Facilities at the Advanced Test Reactor International Topical Meeting on Research Reactor Fuel Management Lyon, France

FBNR Letter FIXED BED NUCLEAR REACTOR FBNR

MHTGR nuclear engine for world development

Advanced-High-Temperature-Reactor Spent-Fuel Characteristics and Repository Impacts

BNFL/Westinghouse s Perspective on the Nuclear Hydrogen Economy

Feasibility of Thorium Fuel Cycles in a Very High Temperature Pebble-Bed Hybrid System

BN-1200 Reactor Power Unit Design Development

VHTR System Prof. Dr. LI Fu

PBMR REACTOR DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

Safeguards and Security by Design Support for the NGNP Project

PARAMETRIC STUDY OF THERMO-MECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR OF 19- ELEMENT PHWR FUEL BUNDLE HAVING AHWR FUEL MATERIAL

The Mutual Influence of Materials and Thermal-hydraulics on Design of SCWR Review of Results of the Project HPLWR Phase 2

Fast and High Temperature Reactors for Improved Thermal Efficiency and Radioactive Waste Management

Research and Development Program on HTTR Hydrogen Production System

Design Features, Economics and Licensing of the 4S Reactor

Molten Salts: Common Nuclear and Concentrated-Solar- Thermal-Power Technologies

Nuclear Energy and Hydrogen Production The Japanese Situation

ANTARES The AREVA HTR-VHTR Design PL A N TS

Transcription:

GAS-COOLED POWER REACTORS AND THEIR THERMAL FEATURES 1 MJAMTFHI P. R. Kasten 2 and D. B. Trauger 3 I shall review the salient features of helium-cooled reactors for electric power generation. Two designs are important in the United States the high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) and the gas-cooled fast breeder reactor (GCFBR). The HTGR uses a graphite core structure containing carbon coated fuel particles of uranium and thorium oxides or carbides in a unique fuel element design. The reactor operates with neutrons in the thermal energy spectrum. The GCFBR fuel is as oxide pellets of uranium and plutonium clad with stainless steel. The fuel elements are similar to those for water and sodium cooled reactors. As the name indicates, it operates in the fast neutron spectrum. After a brief introduction, I will emphasize the thermal features of these reactors, including some problem areas which hopefully are of interest to heat transfer specialists. GCRs have been under development in the United States since 1957. A 33O-MW(e) prototype HTGR power plant, the Fort St. Vrain reactor, is presently under construction near Denver, Colorado. Both 78O-MW(e) and HOO-MW(e) plants are available from Gulf General Atomic and four units have been sold during the past six months. Extensive experience exists in Europe with other types of gas-cooled reactors and with two HTGR experiments. In 1967, Philadelphia Electric Company placed into operation a ^O-MW(e) experimental HTGR, the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station Unit I. It has operated commercially since that time with very good performance for both the gas coolant equipment and the core. Table 1 briefly summarizes some of the T-l design and operating features of the Peach Bottom, Fort St. Vrain and large HTGR units. Whereas the HTGR is now commercially available, the GCFBR is in a relatively early stage of development. Research conducted by the USAEC under contract with Union Carbide Corporation. 2 D?rector, Gas-Cooled Reactor and Thorium Utilization Programs, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Associate Director, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Paper prepared for panel on IA Pow.ej7 Qenei7a.tjH>n, ^n, tjh.en,ea,/r fti 8th Annual Southeastern Semfngr on Thermal Sciences 3 March 23, 1972. fflstgusution OF IKiS ihjcuhlht IS UHUJMJ

Table 1 EVOLUTION OF HTGR NUCLEAR STEAM SYSTEM Peach Sot com Fort St. Vrain UOO-MW(e) HTGR Met plant output, MW(e) Reactor thermal output > MW(t) Net plant efficiency, % 40 H5 3'i.6 330 842 39.2 1100 2804 39.0 Primary coolant Helium Helium Helium Primary coolant, temper a Lure, (cold/hot), F No. of fuel elements Fuel burnup, MWD/tonne 650/1380 804 60,000 750/1430 1519 100,000 630/1413 3800 92,000 Reactor vessel Steel Prestressed concrete Prestressed concrete Control rods 36 - bottom mounted 74 - top mounted 146 - top mounted He I Turn cf r'culator 2 - motor-driven centr ifugal 4 - steam-turbinedriven axial 6 - steam-turbinedriven axial Steam generators 2 - U-tube, drum type 2 - once-through fntegral reheat 6 - once-through integral reheat Steam conditions, ps?g/ o F/ F" 1450/JOOO.2500/1000/1000 25OO/S55/1000 -NOTICE- This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by the United States Government. Neither the United States nor the United States Atomic Energy Commission, nor any of their employees, nor any of their contractors, subcontractors, or their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.

These two reactor concepts have common features insofar as both make use of helium as the coolant and thereby use similar components in the gas circuit including heat exchangers, circulators, and prestressed concrete reactor vessels. Thus development of HTGRs is useful in developing this breeder reactor technology. In addition, the GCFBR profits from the fuel development and testing facilities of the Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor program for which a demonstration plant is to be built in Tennessee. As I am sure you know, development of economic fast breeder reactors will greatly extend our ability to economically utilize nuclear fuel resources. The HTGR shows promise for operation at temperatures high enough so a helium turbine can be profitably employed to drive the steam generator. This could permit economic use of dry cooling towers with an attendant reduction in thermal pollution effects and improved reactor siting. It also appears that HTGR fuels can be developed for operation at temperatures high enough for process heat applications such as coal gasification. HTGRs are generally proposed for operation on the thorium fuel cycle, using uranium of high enrichment as the initial and makeup fissile material. 233 U produced by neutron capture from thorium is recycled to the reactor system. GCFBRs are generally proposed for operation on the uranium cycle with plutonium being used as the fissile fuel and 238 U as the fertile material. The product plutonium is recycled. Further, HTGRs can utilize plutonium as the makeup fissile fuel, thus GCFBRs producing excess plutonium (or 233 U) and HTGRs can work together in a symbiotic system. The schematic flow diagrams of the steam and coolant systems for GCRs are indicated in Fig. 1. As shown, steam from the high pressure F-l turbine drives the helium circulators of the coolant circuit, which provides a compact, highly reliable motive power for the circulators. The general arrangement of a lloo-mw(e) commercial HTGR is shown in Fig. 2. The heat exchangers are in a pod arrangement surrounding the core, F-2 all housed within the prestressed concrete pressure vessel. The PCRV is stressed by wire-wrapping the cylinder and utilizing anchored vertical tendons. Helium enters the reactor at the top and flows downward through the core. The coolant enters the steam generator at the bottom, and makes

HELIUM CIRCULATOR STEAM GENERATOR = GEHERAT03 CONDENSER F.EEDWATER HEATERS FEEOWATER PM b^diwmwn- ^? idftl$ate PUMP HTGR Schematic Flow Diagram

LARGE HTGR GENERAL ARRANGEMENT HEIIU1 fumr CM SU»»O*r SKUCIU4C.» '.

several passes in a once-through steam flow design. There are six primary gas circulators and steam generators; in addition, there are three auxiliary coolant heat exchanger circuits for removing radioactive decay heat energy in case of loss of primary cooling capacity. In Internal steel liner within the PCRV serves as a sealing membrane; penetrations and closures provide access to the cavities of the vessel. The PCRV is protected by a thermal barrier between the; high temoerature helium and the 'iner. Fiaure 3 shows schematically the insulation, liner, F-3 nrf cooling arrangements in section for the upper plenum of the reactor cavity. -The cooling tubes attached to the steel liner remove heat and ma into in the concrete at a peak temperature less than 150 F. In the higher temperature regions of the circuit, additional Insulation, is required. Continuing development work Is desirable'to improve Insulation ; materials and particularly to demonstrate their lona-term performance \ capabilities in gas-cooled reactor environments. Development work should include measurement of thermal conductivity, thermal cycling tests of various materials* and studies of thermal stability on wear-resistant furface coatings* Some excellent work Is being done in both France and England. Four types of insulation have been employed in PCRV application. These are: the fibrous ceramis. reflective metal metallic gauze, and ' pumice concrete. Silica foam, alumina foan, and graphite cloth are promising materials for very high temperatures* i Returning to the reactor core, Fig, 4 illustrates a basic fuel F-4 particle, and a fuel element. The Utter consists of a hexagonal graphite block about 14 in. across the flats and 31 In. long; the block contains } 108 coolant holes 5/8 in. in dfam, end 210 fuel holes */2 in. in diant. The fuel particles have a kernel about 400 y in dlam, and surrounding the ; kernel are four layers of coatings, consisting of an inner buffer layer of porous pyrolytic carbon (for absorbing fission recoils and providing space for gaseous fission products), a second layer of dense isotropic pyrolytic carbon, a layer of silicon carbide (for retaining metal fission products, fuch as Sr and Cs) and an outer layer of dense Isotropic pyroiytfc carbon. I The coated fuel particles are blended with pitch and graphite flour, and I prtssed Into rods about 2 in. long and 1/2 In, In dlam. The rods are heat I treated prior to loading Into the fuel block. The fuel assemblies are placed together to form the core $s Indicated In Fig. 5. F-5

GUN WELDED STUDS PCRV CONCRETE COOLING WATER TUBES.V.%VA«.%V.V.V.%V.V.%V.V.V.%V»%V.V.VKV.* TYPICAL ATTACHMENT FIXTURE \/k" COVER PLATE & 1/32 SEAL SHEET Typical Liner and Thermal Barrier Cross Section in the Upper Plenum

'»»» I I I t < ' I. -tt~;^fhf* fi " * * *. ' 1 \ - V W v ' ^ : ' ^ / : / \ \ ^r>r^iw^--- /.- / RISO-II COATED PARTICLE HEX BLOCK FUEL ELEMENT

KEYED TOP REFLECTOR CLEMENT CONTROL ROD CUIOE TUBE POStTIONINC HOLE RESERVE SHUTDOWN CHANNEL ACTIVE CORE TYPICAL KEV AND KEYWAY SIDE REFLECTOR HEXAGONAL ELEMENT KEY SIOE REFLECTOR RESTRAINT BEAM F... TT BLOCK SIOE REFLECTOR /- CONTROL ROD / CHANNEL KEYED TOP CONTROL ROD REFLECTOR ELEMENT TYPICAL ELEMENT HANDLING HOLE TYPICAL ELEMENT ALICNHEHf OOWEL THERMAL BARRIER PCRV LINER KEYED CORE SUPPORT BLOCK' KEYEO OUTER CORE. SUPPORT BLOCK TYPICAL COLUMN LOCATING OOWEL Reactor Care Arrangement

10 The performance of the fuel particles is influenced by the operating temperature of the fuel, since radioactive fission products are more difficult to retain at higher fuel temperatures. Thus, a comprehensive thermal analysis is required in designing the reactor core, which takes into consideration the general power distribution, the power peaking factors at fuel gaps and reflector interfaces, the influence of control rod manipulation on power peaking, fuel manufacturing tolerances, flow conditions, and the influence of reactor irradiation on the dimensional stability of fuel and graphite, as well as on physical property values. These, in general, are interacting effects. Further, engineering factors have to be considered, such as flow maldistribution due to streaming from inlet ducts. This core, as do all nuclear reactors, provides a challenge to the heat transfer specialist. The steam generator is another component..area where complex thermal analysis and experimental measurements are required. Figure 6 gives a F-6 schematic view of an HTGR steam generator. Helium enters near the bottom, passes through the reheater portion, and then down through the superheaterevaporator-economizer sections before exiting and passing upward to the outlet coolant duct. Feedwater enters at about 340 F and 3000 psig, and leaves at about 950 F and 2500 psig. After expanding through the high pressure turbine, the steam is piped back to the turbine drives of the helium circulators, and then returned to the reheaters at about 625 F and 635 psig. The hot reheat steam leaves the steam generators at about 1000 F and 575 psig and flows to the intermediate pressure section of the turbine. The heat transfer bundles are generally of a helical coil tube design, as shown in the photograph of a _ Fort St. Vrain unit, Fig. 7. F-7 <m The helium coolant temperatures are quite high, entering the steam generator at about 138O F (and 680 psig), and exiting at about 635 F. These conditions require careful steam generator design including material selections. The materials used range from carbon steel to nickel-base alloys, depending upon the particular conditions of temperature and pressure, and the materials characteristics with regard to corrosion resistance, weldability, and long-term creep properties. Sufficient allowances in design temperature and material selections need to be made for factors such as temperature unbalances, tube plugging, hot gas streaks, and gas bypass. The helical evaporator tubes present interesting problems in fluid dynamics and heat transfer.

HELIUM PCRV SUPERHEATER SHROUD EVAPORATOR PCRV LINER ECONOMIZER REHEATER FLOW RES7RICTOR PRIMARY CLOSURE 1C77921 u FEEOWATER IN SUPERHEATER OUT HOT REHEAT OUT COLD REHEAT IN Figure 1100 MW(e) HTGR Plant Steam Generator Concept (U-Tube Reheater) 94

tt^. ' \* '' V'i ^T'n^-^viri!?^

13 By increasing the outlet coolant temperature of an HTGR to 1500 1600 F (from 14OO F), it appears practical to consider use of a helium turbine to drive the generator. Gas turbine use should permit economic application of dry cooling towers thus opening up new sites for power plants. Figure 8 F-8 gives a schematic diagram of a direct cycle HTGR, in whi :h low temperature energy is rejected from the coolant circuit to a dry cooling tower by means of a water loop. In general, dry air cooling of a steam plant is costly because of the low temperature of the condensation process by which the steam plant rejects the waste energy. air flows are required. As a result, the thermal driving force is small and large The gas turbine (or Brayton) cycle, however, has a great advantage over the conventional steam (or Rankine) cycle. This is indicated in Fig. 9, which compares the two cycles. In the Brayton cycle, F-9 sensible heat rather than latent heat is involved, and the heat rejection is spread over a much wider temperature band. In practice this increases the economically useful cooling air temperature rise some 10 fold, reducing cooling tower area requirements; it also allows an increase in air velocity, which improves heat transfer, further reducing flow needs. A comparison of dry cooling tower requirements for a steam cycle and the direct cycle is shown pictorially in Fig. 10. An attractive alternative for direct F-10 cycle heat disposal would be a low temperature heat use such as for desalting water. Further increase in outlet coolant temperatures to l600-200q F might permit HTGRs to be used as an energy source for high temperature process heat. Under such circumstances, extensive investigations would be needed j in the development of high temperature design criteria, and in the develop- ment of high temperature materials which could be used to transfer energy to hydrogen. Fuel development today permits reliable-operation for the required exposure to fast neutrons and fuel burnup at fuel temperatures of 2200 2^00 F. This provides for the gas temperatures of l400 F. Experimental fuel has operated successfully up to 2900"F and some tests have been conducted to 35OO F. One fuel particle tested for the full operating requirement is shown after irradiation in Fig. 11. Let us now turn to Gas-Cooled Fast Breeder Reactors (GCFBR). Work on GCFBRs has been under way for about 10 years, supported by the USAEC, F7II j j i j j I

y//////////////////////^ 1958F.RECUPERATOR : 386F REACTOR CORE rr_*a<~. 130F ' COMP- TURBO- TURBINE COMPRESSOR UNIT I ;. 15,0.0 F J PRE- COOLER POWER TURBINE 2. 166F ' ^GENERATOR DRY TOWER CYCLE EFFICIENCY - 37.2% RECUPERATOR THERMAL RAT 10 0.87. COMPRESSOR & TURBINF EFFICIENCY r 0.9 TOTAL PRESSURE-.LOSS FACTOR - 0.07 \ p *\*Y\ Hl'GR helium gas turbine cycle with dry air cooling (no intercooler)

1*500 i HEAT INPUT r HEAT REJECTION HEAT INPUT,. 1000 i STEAM CYCLE.. ' SUPERHEATER REHEATER GAS TURBINE CYCLE TURBINE TEMP ( S F) EVAPORATOR TURBINE RECUPERATOR $00 COMPRESSOR* PReCOOLER ENTROPY Comparison of steam cycle with gas turbine cycle O-

(A >.,/7.V.:; o u CO u 10 I 01 i CJ9 5u

i I R52969-0.018 INCHES- I I I Fo T [ 200X I I I I r I. HRB-1. (Th,U)0-22 at % burnup - 1300 C - 5.8 x 10 21 n/cm 2 (fast)

18 a group of electric utility companies, and Gulf General Atomic. Since j 1968, the effort has concentrated on the design and safety analysis of a demonstration plant.! Some of the design parameters of a 30Q-MW(e) GCFBR demonstration plant are given in Table 2 along with corresponding values for a large. T-2 plant. The main features of the reactor plant are shown in Fig. 12. You F-12 will note the similarity between this layout and that of the MTGR. The entire primary system is enclosed in the PCRV, with the core, blanket and shield within the central cavity, and the circulators and the steam generators in PCRV wall cavities. In the 300-MW(e) demonstration plant design, there are three main loops and three auxiliary loops for backup cooling. Each main circulator is driven by steam turbines in series with the steam generator, while each auxiliary circulator is driven by an electric motor. ~ The all-encompassing concrete pressure vessel and auxiliary cooling systems are essential to the safety and viability of this reactor system. In contrast to the HTGR, the full structure In thts core has little heat capacity and the helium is much denser than water or sodium. Thus it is essential that coolant circulation be maintained reliably to remove the decay energy afterheat. For some time, It was widely held that the cooling system reliability requirements would exceed practical limits. However, studies during recent years have indicated that the emergency cooling requirements may be no more severe than for water-cooled reactors. The reactor fuel assembly Is composed of 210 hexagonal core and blanket elements, each about 10 ft long and 6 1/2!n. across flat. (Fig. 13) F-13 Adjustment of the orifices in these elements distributes coolant flow so as to levelize cladding hot spot temperatures. Pressure in the fuel rods Is essentially the same as in the primary coolant by use of a pressure equalization system to eliminate pressure-differential stresses on the cladding. It also limits the release of activity to the primary coolant from failed rods and allows for detection of failed cladding. ' * J The fuel cladding is artificially roughened to double the local heat transfer coefficient, at a cost of about tripling the local friction factor. However, the heat transfer coefficients need further experimental verification, particularly for abnormal operating conditions (e.g., low

. - ;. ;. p.: t» i : k\ Table r"l > 'I «MAIN DESIGN PARAMETERS FOR GCFR PLANTS Operating, Conditions. Size, MW(c) Helium temperatures, C Helium pressure, atm (psi) Cladding hot spot temperature, C Relative system pressure drop, % Proportion Core volume, liters Rod diameter, cm Cladding OD/IO ratio Percent fissile.. Performance Net thermal efficiency, %.. Average fuel rating,'mw(t)/kg (fissile) Average power density, kw(t)/liter (core) Maximum linear rating with ]0% overpower, V//cm (kw/ft) Conversion ratio Fuel life (ful. power days). Ooubiing time, years. Maximum burnup, MWO/'tonne Demonstration 311 310-540 85 (1250) 3200 0.71 1.15 18.5 : 37.6 0.60 0.24 460 (13.9) 1.33 690 18 100,000 Commercial (Typical) 1000 290-595 «85 (1250) r 75O 4.8 9 6240 0.60 1.10. 16 38 1.2 0.375 545 (16.5) 1.5... 440 7 100,000

RfACTOA LC81109-A Figure,38. 300 MW(e) GCFR Plant 122

LATCH VENT CONNECTION \ FUEL ROD GCFR vented fuel element

22 coolant.flow). These latter studies would concern the ability to cool the core under possible accident conditions. The principal components of the power cycle are shown schematically in Fig. 14. Note that the generated steam goes directly to the steam- F-14 turbine drive of the circulator, which should provide a high degree of reliability for providing coolant flow through the core. Thermal evaluation of the GCFBR core involves many of the same factors as for the HTGR; however, since a clad element design is involved, the correspondence is not exact. Thermal features are influenced by power distribution, coolant flow distribution, orificing factors, changes in power distribution with time, mechanical tolerances, thermal deformations of core structures, flow redistribution due to* power density gradients, and effects of inner subchannel flow. Further, the prediction o'f heat transfer coefficients depends upon the effect pf turbulence promoters, surface roughening, and fuel pin spacers. Further, fuel temperatures are influenced by the thermal conductivity of the fuel, radiation damage effects, the generaiton of fission products, the fuel and cladding dimensional changes with irradiation, gas gaps occurring between fuel and cladding, changes in fuel properties with irradiation, and thermal cycling effects. Engineering factors which need to be considered are maldistribution of flow, mechanical tolerances, fuel enrichment tolerances, and uncertainty of heat transfer coefficients. Reactor performance improvement can be obtained by use of more sophisticated fuel zoning and flow orificing to give a more uniform power distribution uind temperature rise through the core, at the expense of higher fuel enrichment requirements, use of higher working pressures, use of higher pumping power, or tighter thermal tolerances. Fuel swelling during reactor irradiations will change flow cross sectional areas, which in turn will influence flow distributions in the core. This will influence heat transport as well as heat transfer, and also the temperatures in the core. Since permissible core temperatures are limited, thermal designs have to properly account for these factors. Insulation problems are similar in the GCFBR as in the HTGR except since the coolant temperature is somewhat lower, these problems are probably less severe. Steam generator design problems are similar, although the design conditions for the GCFBR are more stringent due to the lower

V 595 - F ; NET PLANT OUTPUT 3»1 MWe PLANT EFFICIENCY 37.6%?20'F. NET PLANT HEAT RATE 9080 BTU/KWH 1225 STEAM GENERATOR, CM CIRCULATOR TUR3INE HELIUM CIRCULATOR FEEDWATER HEATERS GCFR demonstration olant oower cvcle diaeram

PRKasten 3/20/72 coolant outlet temperature, which places more emphasis on obtaining a high performance steam generator so as to improve steam conditions. Thus, heat transfer coefficients in steam generators need specific evaluation under GCFBR conditions. Another feature associated with GCFBRs is the transparency of the coolant to gamma radiation. Because of this, a thermal shield has to be provided which permits helium to flow and yet protects ducts from high irradiation doses. This is not directly related to thermal evaluation, but it is related to coolant flow pressure drops, which in turn have an influence on thermal design. In summary, gas-cooled reactors are a commercial reality with apparent possibility for substantial improvement. Much of this potential must derive from further studies and testing in heat transfer and fluid dynamics. If realized, the capabilities of gas-cooled reactors can exceed those of any other reactor system. The HTGR capability for using either thorium or plutonium as fuel, its potential for the steam turbine or gas turbine energy cycle, and its potential for dry cool ing.towers and process heat applications make it the most versatile cf all reactors. When the HTGR is combined with the GCFBR (which has the highest breeding potential) these reactors offer a very attractive power system. Although I have emphasized the development requirements, hopefully in response to heat transfer interests, the total development requirements are not excessive. This derives from the similarities between the thermal and breeder designs and the capability of the gas breeder to utilize sodium-cooled reactor fuel experience. In this talk I have given the general features of HTGRs and GCFBRs, their interrelation and their future applications, and also some of the thermal features which need additional investigation in order to improve the design and performance of these systems. While this overall view has been rather sketchy, I hope it stimulates you to look more deeply into pertinent thermal studies. Thank you.

25 BIBLIOGRAPHY Do B. Trauger, Helium-Cooled Reactors, USAEC Report ORNL-TM-2297, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, October 1968. U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, The Use of Thorium in Nuclear Power Reactors, USAEC Report WASH-1097, pp. 51-54, June I969. P. U. Fischer, S. Jaye and H. B. Stewart, Alternate Fuel Cycles for the HTGR, Proceedings of a Symposium, Advanced and High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors, JUlich, 21-25 October 1968, pp. 745-760, IAEA, Vienna, 1969. U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, An Evaluation of Alternate Coolant Fast Breeder Reactors, USAEC Report WASH-1090, pp. 55-62, April 1969. A. J. Goodjohn, High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors Using Helium Coolant, Helium Symposia Proceedings in I968 A Hundred Years of Helium, pp. 117-133, U. S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, 1969.' H. W. Muller, C. B. von der Decken, U. Hennings and W. Sturmer, The AVR Pebble Bed Reactor, paper presented at the British Nuclear Energy Society Symposium on High Temperature Reactors and the Dragon Project, 23 May 1966.. UHTREX: Alive and Running with Coolant at 2400 F, Nucl. News 12, pp. 31-32, November 1969. 1 R. E. Walker and T. A. Johnston, Fort St. Vrain Nuclear Power Station, Nucl. Eng. Intl. pp. 1069-1093, December 1969. H. W. Muller, Design Features of the 300-MW THTR Power Station, Proceedings of a Symposium, Advanced and High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors, Julich 21-25 October 1968. pp. 135-152, IAEA, Vienna, 1969. " World Digest, Nucl. Eng. Intl. pp. 61A, August 1969. A. L. Lotts and R. G. Wymer, Economics and Technology of HTGR Fuel Recycle, Proceedings of a Symposium, Advanced and High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors, Julich, 21-25 October 1968, pp. 789-812, IAEA, Vienna, 1969. K. G. Hackstein, M. Hrovat, G. Spener and K. Ehlers, Recent Developments in the Manufacture of Spherical Fuel Elements for High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors, Proceedings of a Symposium, Advanced and High- Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors, Julich, 21-25 October 1968, pp. T>73-679, IAEA, Vienna, 1969. H. J. Stocker, W. Deiie, K. D. Olshausen, G. Pott, K. Ehlers, E. Groos and L. Vaiette, Fuel and Material Testing for Pebble-Bed Reactors, Proceedings of A Symposium, Advanced and High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors, Julich, 21-25 October 1968, pp. 681-690, IAEA, Vienna, 1969. O.E.C.D. Dragon High Temperature Reactor Project, Tenth Annual Report, 1968-1969, PP. 53-74.

26 J. L. Scott et al., Development of Bonded Beds of Coated Particles for HTGR Fuel Elements, Proceedings of Gas-Cooled Reactor Information Meeting, Oak Ridge. April 27-30. 1970. USAEC Report CONF-700401. G. E. Lockett and S. B. Hosegood, Design Concepts for Power Reactors, British Nuclear Energy Society, S-ymposium on High Temperature Reactors and the Dragon Project, Session IV, paper 13, 24 May 1966, Winfrith, Dorset England. D. C. Morse and H. K. Wiard, Reactor Arrangement Studies for a Large HTGR Plant, USAEC Report GA-8439 (Rev.), Gulf General Atomic, July 31, 1969. R. E. D. Burrow and A. J. Williams, Hartlepool AGR, Nucl. Eng. Intl., pp. 973-995, November 1969.. D. J. Silverleaf and R. J. Weeks, The Performance of the Central Electricity Generating Board Nuclear Power Stations, Proceedings of a Symposium. Advanced and High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors, Julich. 21-25 October 1968. pp. 51-73, IAEA, Vienna, 1969. Masao Andoh, AGR-HTR Coaxial Cores for Steelmaking, Nucl. Eng. Intl.. pp. 1094-1096, December 1969. Session III, The Application of Gas Turbines, Proceedings of a Symposium, Advanced and High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors. Julieh. 21-25 October 1968. pp, 247-406, IAEA, Vienna, 1969. Farrington Daniels,, Suggestion for an Experimental Power Reactor. An Impregnated Graphite, Nitrogen-Cooled Reactor and Gas Turbine, Using Materials and Equipment Available Now, USAEC Report AECD-4095, Argonne National Laboratory, April 1950. E. Bohm, W. Twardziok; H. Oehme and H. Weiskopf, Development Work for Large Scale Helium Turbine Plants with High Temperature Reactors, Proceedings of Gas-Cooled Reactor Information Meeting, Oak Ridge, April 27-30. 1970. USAEC Report CONF-700401. D. B. Coburn, The Gas-Cooled Fast Breeder Reactor Why and When, USAEC Report GA-8811, Gulf General Atomic, Aug. 21, 1968. H. G. O'Brien and O. W. Burke, Loss-of-Cooling Accidents and Core Cooldown Rates in a Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor, USAEC Report ORNL-TM-2783, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Dec. 1, 1969. C. P. Gratton, E. G. Bevan, A. T. Hooper and G. W. Horsley, A Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor with Direct-Cycle Potential, Proceedings of a Symposium. Advanced and High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors. Julich. 21-25 October 1968. pp. 359-383, IAEA, Vienna, 1969. J. W. Landis et ai., Gas-Cooled Reactor Development in the United States, paper presented to the Fourth United Nations International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, Geneva, Switzerland, September 6-16, 1971. H. B. Stewart et al., Utilization of the Thorium Cycle in the HTGR, paper presented to the Fourth United Nations International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, Geneva, Switzerland, September 6-16, 1971.