Steam Turbine Driven Circulators for High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors—Part I: Design

Abstract

The High-Temperature Gas-Cooled reactor is characterized by integration of the primary coolant circuit and components within a Prestressed Concrete Pressure Vessel. This concept requires particular features and assurance in the circulators that are used to circulate the primary coolant fluid. Each circulator employs a single-stage axial compressor driven by a single-stage turbine which is in series with the main steam turbogenerator. The circulator is lubricated by water and is capable of variable speed operation. An extensive design and development program was carried out to provide a family of circulators for a range of reactor sizes. This paper considers the design features of the series steam turbine driven helium circulator and the basis for the adopted design solutions. Part II of this paper considers the experimental development program.