Study on the thermal efficiency of gas-turbine FBRs

The thermal efficiency of the gas-turbine LMFBR system using the liquid sodium as a primary coolant and a gas turbine as a power conversion system is evaluated. And then the sodium/helium heat exchangers are analyzed. The evaluation models of the configuration of the sodium/helium heat exchanger having a single pass tube bank or a cross flow tube bank and their effects of the expansion of the heat exchange areas are developed to analyze the size and the performance of a heat exchanger. The design charts corresponding to the evaluation model of the heat technology in field of FBRs without intermediate loops, the concepts of the super critical steam coolant fast breeder reactors(SCFBRs) and of small gas turbine FBRs are reviewed. The thermal efficiency of a gas turbine LMFBR system is expected to reach about 35 % as the technology is developed. Sodium/helium heat exchanger using Phenix reactor as a primary side and a GA-modular gas turbine system as a secondary side, for an example, has the shell diameter of 2 to 3 meters and the tube height of 12 to 17 meters. 44 figs, 14 tabs, 32 refs. (Author)