Design and Performance Evaluation of Multi-Generation System based on Transcritical CO2 Rankine Cycle and Helium Gas Turbine with Hydrogen Production

Authors : Gamze Soytürk

Pages : 2297-2314

Doi:10.29130/dubited.1488860

View : 48 | Download : 117

Publication Date : 2024-10-23

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The advancement in nuclear energy embodied by the gas-cooled modular reactor (GCMR), incorporating the transcritical CO2 Rankine cycle (tRC) and a helium turbine (He tur.) for hydrogen (H2) production, signifies a substantial leap forward in this domain. This research endeavor aimed to amalgamate various technologies to enhance energy conversion efficiency and generate clean hydrogen, a versatile energy carrier. Helium, selected as the GCMR coolant, boasts advantageous properties such as superior heat transfer capabilities, chemical inertness, and the capacity to operate at elevated temperatures. These attributes facilitate effective heat extraction from the reactor core, mitigating corrosion risks while boosting both power output and energy efficiency. A pivotal aspect of this design lies in integrating the tRC with the helium turbine, maximizing energy conversion efficiency and resource utilization by harnessing waste heat from the He turbine to generate additional power through the CO2 Rankine cycle. Furthermore, the system incorporates a hydrogen production module, enabling the clean generation of hydrogen as a byproduct of the nuclear power generation process. According to analysis results, the net power obtained from the Helium turbine was calculated as 241679 kW, and the net power produced from the tRC was calculated as 9902 kW. Additionally, with this developed system, 23.11 kg/h H2 and 183.4 kg/h O2 can be produced. The energetic and exergetic performance of the overall system is computed as 41.8% and 54.28%, while the total amount of exergy destruction is determined as 212199 kW. Moreover, analytical findings reveal that the reactor core exhibits the highest exergy destruction among system components at 91282 kW, whereas the heat exchanger (HEx) registers the lowest exergy destruction at 3.56 kW. In addition, in this study, parametric analyses are also performed to determine the effect of helium outlet temperature analysis and pressure ratio on system performance.
Keywords : Gaz Soğutmalı Modüler Reaktör, Helyum Gazı Türbini, Transkritik CO2 Rankine Çevrimi, Hidrojen Üretimi, Enerji, Ekserji