Air-Brayton Systems with Salt, Sodium, and Helium Base-Load Reactors with Variable Electricity, Steam and Hot-Air Output

摘要

For 50 years designers of all nuclear power plants have coupled reactors to steam cycles-the traditional power conversion technology. In this same timeframe there have been dramatic improvements in air Brayton power cycles and utility natural-gas combined cycles. NACC enables variable power to match electricity markets while the reactor operates at base-load, reduced cooling requirements, grid stabilization services, and easy coupling to industrial steam demand. The remarkable evolving capability of gas turbines suggests rethinking the power cycles for all high-temperature reactors.