Comparison of Nuclear Power Plants With Closed-Cycle Helium Turbine and With Steam Turbine Cycle for Combined Power and Steam Generation

Abstract

The heat of a helium-cooled reactor can be used for combined power and steam generation either in a closed-cycle helium turbine system, the so-called single-cycle system, or in a two-cycle system which consists of a helium cycle and a secondary steam turbine cycle. The optimum data for the two systems are determined within the same range of general parameters—electric power output and quantity and quality of the steam produced—as functions of the special parameters of each particular cycle system. A method of comparing different power plant systems is shown. With this method it is possible to determine those ranges in which the efficiencies achieved with one system are higher than those obtained with the other. It is described in which way the dividing line between such ranges depends on the special parameters of the cycles. The comparison shows that the single-cycle system offers advantages.