Multi-objective optimization and evaluation of supercritical CO_(2) Brayton cycle for nuclear power generation

The supercritical CO_(2) Brayton cycle is considered a promising energy conversion system for Generation IV reactors for its simple layout,compact structure,and high cycle efficiency.Mathematical models of four Brayton cycle layouts are developed in this study for different reactors to reduce the cost and increase the thermohydraulic performance of nuclear power generation to promote the commercialization of nuclear energy.Parametric analysis,multi-objective optimizations,and four decision-making methods are applied to obtain each Brayton scheme’s optimal thermohydraulic and economic indexes.Results show that for the same design thermal power scale of reactors,the higher the core’s exit temperature,the better the Brayton cycle’s thermo-economic performance.Among the four-cycle layouts,the recompression cycle(RC)has the best overall performance,followed by the simple recuperation cycle(SR)and the intercooling cycle(IC),and the worst is the reheating cycle(RH).However,RH has the lowest total cost of investment(C_(tot))of$1619.85 million,and IC has the lowest levelized cost of energy(LCOE)of 0.012$/(kWh).The nuclear Brayton cycle system’s overall performance has been improved due to optimization.The performance of the molten salt reactor combined with the intercooling cycle(MSR-IC)scheme has the greatest improvement,with the net output power(W_(net)),thermal efficiencyη_(t),and exergy efficiency(η_(e))improved by 8.58%,8.58%,and 11.21%,respectively.The performance of the lead-cooled fast reactor combined with the simple recuperation cycle scheme was optimized to increase C_(tot) by 27.78%.In comparison,the internal rate of return(IRR)increased by only 7.8%,which is not friendly to investors with limited funds.For the nuclear Brayton cycle,the molten salt reactor combined with the recompression cycle scheme should receive priority,and the gas-cooled fast reactor combined with the reheating cycle scheme should be considered carefully.

Supercritical CO_(2) Cycles for Nuclear-Powered Marine Propulsion:Preliminary Conceptual Design and Off-Design Performance Assessment

Using the efficient,space-saving,and flexible supercritical carbon dioxide(sCO_(2)) Brayton cycle is a promising approach for improving the performance of nuclear-powered ships.The purpose of this paper is to design and compare sCO_(2) cycle power systems suitable for nuclear-powered ships.Considering the characteristics of nuclear-powered ships,this paper uses different indicators to comprehensively evaluate the efficiency,cost,volume,and partial load performance of several nuclear-powered sCO_(2) cycles.Four load-following strategies are also designed and compared.The results show that the partial cooling cycle is most suitable for nuclear-powered ships because it offers both high thermal efficiency and low volume and cost,and can maintain relatively high thermal efficiency at partial loads.Additionally,the new load-following strategy that adjusts the turbine speed can keep the compressor away from the surge line,making the cycle more flexible and efficient compared to traditional inventory and turbine bypass strategies.

Thermodynamic and Economic Analysis of a Conceptual System Combining Sludge Gasification,SOFC,Supercritical CO_(2)Cycle,and Organic Rankine Cycle

In order to reduce the environmental impact of conventional sludge treatment methods and to utilize the energy in sludge more effectively,a coupled system based on sewage sludge gasifier(SSG),solid oxide fuel cells(SOFC),supercritical CO_(2)cycle(S-CO_(2)),and organic Rankine cycle(ORC)is proposed.The clean syngas obtained from sludge gasification is mixed with CH4 and then first utilized by the fuel cell.The exhaust gas from the fuel cell is fully combusted in the afterburning chamber and then enters the bottom cycle system consisting of S-CO_(2)&ORC to generate electricity.To understand the performance of the system,thermodynamic and economic analyses were conducted to examine the project's performance.The thermodynamics as well as the economics of the coupled system were analyzed to arrive at the following conclusions,the power production of the system is 37.34 MW;the exergy efficiency is 55.62%,and the net electrical efficiency is 61.48%.The main exergy destruction is the gasifier and SOFC,accounting for 62.45%of the total exergy destruction.It takes only6.13 years to repay the construction investment in the novel system,and the project obtains a NPV of 17723820USD during 20 years lifetime.The above findings indicate that the new coupled system has a better performance in terms of energy utilization and economy.

Design Optimization and Operating Performance of S-CO_(2) Brayton Cycle under Fluctuating Ambient Temperature and Diverse Power Demand Scenarios

The supercritical CO_(2)(S-CO_(2)) Brayton cycle is expected to replace steam cycle in the application of solar power tower system due to the attractive potential to improve efficiency and reduce costs.Since the concentrated solar power plant with thermal energy storage is usually located in drought area and used to provide a dispatchable power output,the S-CO_(2) Brayton cycle has to operate under fluctuating ambient temperature and diverse power demand scenarios.In addition,the cycle design condition will directly affect the off-design performance.In this work,the combined effects of design condition,and distributions of ambient temperature and power demand on the cycle operating performance are analyzed,and the off-design performance maps are proposed for the first time.A cycle design method with feedback mechanism of operating performance under varied ambient temperature and power demand is introduced innovatively.Results show that the low design value of compressor inlet temperature is not conductive to efficient operation under low loads and sufficient output under high ambient temperatures.The average yearly efficiency is most affected by the average power demand,while the load cover factor is significantly influenced by the average ambient temperature.With multi-objective optimization,the optimal solution of designed compressor inlet temperature is close to the minimum value of35℃ in Delingha with low ambient temperature,while reaches 44.15℃ in Daggett under the scenario of high ambient temperature,low average power demand,long duration and large value of peak load during the peak temperature period.If the cycle designed with compressor inlet temperature of 35℃ instead of 44.15℃ in Daggett under light industry power demand,the reduction of load cover factor will reach 0.027,but the average yearly efficiency can barely be improved.

Performance Assessment of a Novel Polygeneration System Based on the Integration of Waste Plasma Gasification,Tire Pyrolysis,Gas Turbine,Supercritical CO_(2)Cycle and Organic Rankine Cycle

In this paper,a novel polygeneration system involving plasma gasifier,pyrolysis reactor,gas turbine(GT),supercritical CO_(2)(S-CO_(2))cycle,and organic Rankine cycle(ORC)has been developed.In the proposed scheme,the syngas is obtained by the gasification and the pyrolysis is first burned and drives the gas turbine for power generation,and then the resulting hot exhaust gas is applied to heat the working fluid for the supercritical CO_(2)cycle and the working fluid for the bottom organic Rankine cycle.In addition to the electrical output,the pyrolysis subsystem also produces pyrolysis oil and char.Accordingly,energy recovery is achieved while treating waste in a non-hazardous manner.The performance of the new scheme was examined by numerous methods,containing energy analysis,exergy analysis,and economic analysis.It is found that the net total energy output of the polygeneration system could attain 19.89 MW with a net total energy efficiency of 52.77%,and the total exergy efficiency of 50.14%.Besides,the dynamic payback period for the restoration of the proposed project is only 3.31 years,and the relative net present value of 77552640 USD can be achieved during its 20-year lifetime.

Constructal design of printed circuit recuperator for S-CO_(2)cycle via multi-objective optimization algorithm

Based on a constructal theory,the structure design of a printed circuit recuperator with a semicircular heat transfer channel for supercritical CO_(2)cycle is carried out.First,a complex function composed of weighted sum of the reciprocal of total heat transfer rate and total pumping power consumption is regarded as an optimization objective,and total volumes of the recuperator and heat transfer channel are regarded as constraints.The optimal heat transfer channel radius and minimum complex function of the recuperator are obtained.It turns out that heat transfer rate,pumping power consumption,and complex function under the optimal construct of recuperator are reduced by 15.10%,82.44%,and 32.33%,respectively.There exists the optimal single plate channel number which results in the double minimum complex function.Second,for the purpose of minimizing the reciprocal of heat transfer rate and pumping power consumption,NSGA-II algorithm is used to achieve multi-objective optimization,and the minimum deviation index derived by the decision-making methods is 0.076,which can be taken as multi-objective optimal design scheme for printed circuit recuperator with semicircular heat transfer channels.The findings presented here can serve as theoretical recommendations for the structure design of printed circuit recuperator.

Performance Analysis and Evaluation of a Supercritical CO2 Rankine Cycle Coupled with an Absorption Refrigeration Cycle

The utilization of sensible waste heat such as flue gas and industrial surplus heat is essential for energy saving. Supercritical CO2 power generation cycle is a promising way to be used in this field. In this paper, a new supercritical CO2 Rankine cycle coupled with an absorption refrigeration cycle is proposed, which consists of a reheating supercritical CO2 cycle, a mixed-effect Li Br-H2O absorption refrigeration cycle and solar subsystem including evacuated-tube collector and a hot water storage tank. The system has four variants according to the presence or absence of solar subsystem and net cooling energy output. The thermodynamic model of the proposed system was established and its performance was evaluated. The proposed system is able to realize cascade utilization of flue gas waste heat and efficient conversion of solar energy. It has much higher thermodynamic efficiency than the reference system(i.e., the conventional supercritical CO2 Brayton cycle). Taking combined power and cooling system driven by flue gas waste heat and solar energy as an example, its thermal efficiency and exergy efficiency are 20.37% and 54.18% respectively, compared with the 14.74% and 35.96% of the reference system. Energy Utilization Diagrams(EUD) are implemented to investigate the irreversible losses and variation of the exergy destruction in the energy conversion process. Parametric analysis in two key parameters is conducted to provide guidance for the system optimal design.

Progress in Research and Development of Molten Chloride Salt Technology for Next Generation Concentrated Solar Power Plants

Concentrated solar power(CSP)plants with thermal energy storage(TES)system are emerging as one kind of the most promising power plants in the future renewable energy system,since they can supply dispatchable and low-cost electricity with abundant but intermittent solar energy.In order to significantly reduce the levelized cost of electricity(LCOE)of the present commercial CSP plants,the next generation CSP technology with higher process temperature and energy efficiency is being developed.The TES system in the next generation CSP plants works with new TES materials at higher temperatures(>565℃)compared to that with the commercial nitrate salt mixtures.This paper reviews recent progressin research and development of the next generation CSP and TES technology.Emphasis is given on theadvanced'TES technology based on molten chloride salt mixtures such as MgCl_(2)/NaCl/KCl which hassimilar thermo-physical properties as the commercial nitrate salt mixtures,higher thermal stability(>800℃),and lower costs(<0.35USD·kg^(-1)).Recent progress in the selection/optimization of chloridesalts,determination of molten chloride salt properties,and corrosion control of construction materials(eg.,alloys)in molten chlorides is reviewed.

Investigation on One-Dimensional Loss Models for Predicting Performance of Multistage Centrifugal Compressors in Supercritical CO Brayton Cycle

The main compressor in a supercritical carbon dioxide(SCO2)Brayton cycle works near the critical point where the physical properties of CO_(2)are far away from the ideal gas.To investigate the effectiveness of the conventional one-dimensional(1D)loss models for predicting the performance of compressors working in such nontraditional conditions,detailed comparisons of 1D predicted performance,experimental data and threedimensional CFD results are made.A 1D analysis method with enthalpy and total pressure based loss system is developed for multistage SCO2 centrifugal compressors,and it is firstly validated against the experimental results of a single stage SCO2 centrifugal compressor from the Sandia National Laboratory.A good agreement of pressure ratios with experiments can be achieved by the 1D method.But the efficiency deviations reveal the potential deficiencies of the parasitic loss models.On the basis of the validation,a two-stage SCO2 centrifugal compressor is employed to do the evaluation.Three-dimensional CFD simulations are performed.Detailed comparisons are made between the CFD and the 1D results at different stations located in the compressor.The features of the deviations are analyzed in detail,as well as the reasons that might cause these deviations.

Performance Analysis of an Integrated Supercritical CO_(2) Recompression/Absorption Refrigeration/Kalina Cycle Driven by Medium-Temperature Waste Heat

A novel power and cooling cogeneration system which combines a supercritical CO_(2) recompression cycle(SCRC), an ammonia-water absorption refrigeration cycle(AARC) and a Kalina cycle(KC) is proposed and investigated for the recovery of medium-temperature waste heat. The system is based on energy cascade utilization, and the waste heat can be fully converted through the simultaneous operation of the three sub-cycles. A steady-state mathematical model is built for further performance study of the proposed system. When the exhaust temperature is 505℃, it is shown that under designed conditions the thermal efficiency and exergy efficiency reach 30.74% and 61.55%, respectively. The exergy analysis results show that the main exergy destruction is concentrated in the heat recovery vapor generator(HRVG). Parametric study shows that the compressor inlet pressure, the SCRC pressure ratio, the main compressor and the turbine I inlet temperature, and the AARC generator pressure have significant effects on thermodynamic and economic performance of the combined system. The findings in this study could provide guidance for system design to achieve an efficient utilization of medium-temperature waste heat(e.g., exhaust heat from gas turbine, high-temperature fuel cells and internal combustion engine).

Multiparameter optimization and configuration comparison of supercritical CO_(2) Brayton cycles based on efficiency and cost tradeoff

Supercritical CO_(2)Brayton cycle has high efficiency,compactness,and excellent power generation potential.In the design of the cycle,some parameters,such as recuperator pinch point temperature difference(ΔTrec,pp),turbine inlet temperature(Ttur,in),and maximum cycle pressure(pmax),are often preset without optimization.Furthermore,different preferences on efficiency and cost tradeoff can significantly affect the optimal design of the cycle,and the influence of different parameters on the design condition and the optimum cycle configuration becomes unclear as the preference changes.In this study,different preferences on efficiency and cost tradeoff are considered,and the effects of cycle configuration and optimization parameter addition on the tradeoff are investigated.In addition,four configurations under different preferences on tradeoff are recommended.Results show that the design condition parametersΔT_(rec,pp) decrease and T_(tur,in) and pmax increase as the preference of thermal efficiency(W_(th))increases.Different optimized parameters affect the results of the design point and cycle performance.In addition,the simple recuperative cycle and reheating cycle are recommended when low cycle initial cost dominates(W_(th)<0.598),and the recompression cycle and intercooling cycle are recommended when high cycle thermal efficiency dominates(W_(th)>0.701).The decision maker can select appropriate configuration according to specific preferences.

Performance comparison of the solar-driven supercritical organic Rankine cycle coupled with the vapour-compression refrigeration cycle

In this study,a parametric analysis was performed of a supercritical organic Rankine cycle driven by solar parabolic trough collectors(PTCs)coupled with a vapour-compression refrigeration cycle simultaneously for cooling and power production.Thermal efficiency,exergy efficiency,exergy destruction and the coefficient of performance of the cogeneration system were considered to be performance parameters.A computer program was developed in engineering equation-solver software for analysis.Influences of the PTC design parameters(solar irradiation,solar-beam incidence angle and velocity of the heat-transfer fluid in the absorber tube),turbine inlet pressure,condenser and evaporator temperature on system performance were discussed.Furthermore,the performance of the cogeneration system was also compared with and without PTCs.It was concluded that it was necessary to design the PTCs carefully in order to achieve better cogeneration performance.The highest values of exergy efficiency,thermal efficiency and exergy destruction of the cogeneration system were 92.9%,51.13%and 1437 kW,respectively,at 0.95 kW/m2 of solar irradiation based on working fluid R227ea,but the highest coefficient of performance was found to be 2.278 on the basis of working fluid R134a.It was also obtained from the results that PTCs accounted for 76.32%of the total exergy destruction of the overall system and the cogeneration system performed well without considering solar performance.

Innovative power generation systems using supercritical CO_(2) cycles

Supercritical carbon dioxide(sCO_(2))power cycle is an innovative concept for converting thermal energy to electrical energy.It uses sCO_(2)as the working fluid medium in a closed or semi-closed Brayton thermodynamic cycle.The sCO_(2)power cycles have several benefits such as high cycle efficiency,small equipment size and plant footprint(and therefore lower capital cost)and the potential for full carbon capture.Achieving the full benefits of the sCO_(2)cycle depends on overcoming a number of engineering and materials science challenges that impact both the technical feasibility of the cycle and its economic viability.For example,the design and construction methods of turbomachinery,recuperator and high-pressure oxy-combustor pose significant technical challenges.Other R&D needs include material selection and testing,and optimized power cycle configuration.Over the years,particularly in the last decade,R&D efforts have been growing worldwide to develop sCO_(2)cycle technologies for power generation.Significant progress has been made in developing sCO_(2)cycle power systems.Some small,low-temperature sCO_(2)Brayton cycle power systems are starting to emerge in the commercial market,and a natural gas-fired demonstration power plant using a sCO_(2)cycle called the Allam Cycle is under construction.This article describes the sCO_(2)cycles for applications in power generation from fossil fuels and reviews the recent developments in sCO_(2)power cycle technologies.

Structural Assessment of Printed Circuit Heat Exchangers in Supercritical CO_(2) Waste Heat Recovery Systems for Ship Applications

Printed circuit heat exchangers(PCHEs)are considered as the most promising heat exchangers for use of the supercritical carbon dioxide(S-CO_(2))Brayton cycle.As crucial components operating at high pressure and thermal load at the same time,PCHE structural integrity evaluations are essential.In this study,to assess the structural strength of PCHEs serving as recuperators and precoolers in the S-CO_(2) Brayton cycle as a waste heat recovery system for marine engines,the finite element method(FEM)is used and compared with a currently used method from ASME codes.The effects of temperature and pressure on the hot and cold sides are studied in terms of the temperature and pressure differences between the two sides and the main factors affecting its strength discussed.Then,detailed stress intensities of a PCHE under design conditions are investigated,and the results indicate that the highest stress appears at the middle of the semicircular arc of the channel,except for a concentration near the channel tip regions.Stresses of the PCHE are mainly caused by both pressure and temperature differences,with the minimum effect from temperature.The synthesis of the temperature and pressure fields exhibits a complicated action on the total stress under the design conditions.FEM was a more comprehensive means for structural assessment than the method from ASME codes.Further structural optimization of PCHE is conducted to ensure a maximum life span.This research work can provide theoretical guidance for structural integrity assessment of PCHE for the S-CO_(2) Brayton cycle.

Development and assessment of a novel integrated system powered by parabolic trough collectors for combined power, heating and freshwater production

Hybrid solar-based integrated systems represent a viable solution for countries with abundant solar radiation,as they provide energy needs in an environmentally friendly way,offering a sustainable and economically advantageous energy solution that utilizes a free source of energy.Therefore,this research offers a thermodynamic evaluation of a novel integrated system driven by solar energy that aims to produce power,heating and freshwater.The integrated system consists of a parabolic trough collector that uses CO_(2) as its working fluid and implements the supercritical carbon dioxide cycle to generate power and heating.The integrated system also in-cludes an adsorption desalination system with heat recovery between the condenser and evaporator,which employs a cutting-edge material called an aluminium fumarate metal–organic framework to produce fresh water.For the modelling of a novel system,an en-gineering equation solver,which is considered a reliable tool for thermodynamic investigations,is employed.The effectiveness of an integrated system is evaluated using a mathematical model and different varying parameters are examined to ascertain their influence on thermal and exergy efficiency,specific daily water production and gained output ratio.The results revealed that the parabolic trough collector achieved a thermal efficiency of 67.2%and an exergy efficiency of 41.2%under certain conditions.Additionally,the thermal efficiencies for electrical and heating were obtained 24.68%and 9.85%,respectively.Finally,the specific daily water production was calculated,showing promising results and an increase from 7.1 to 12.5 m3/ton/day,while the gain output ratio increased from 0.395 to 0.62 when the temperature of hot water increased from 65°C to 85°C,under the selected conditions.