A DIRECT-CYCLE GAS-TURBINE POWER-PLANT FOR NEAR-TERM APPLICATION - MGR-GT

MGR-GT is a conceptual design for a direct Brayton-cycle power plant based on a Modular Gas-Cooled Reactor core. The plant is intended for electricity production, although it can accommodate such other uses as desalination without sacrifice of electrical efficiency. The conceptual design is based on a 200 MWt reactor with 850-degrees-C outlet temperature. The power system maintains passive safety and achieves high performance while utilizing only currently available materials and technologies within the limits set by current design codes. Through the employment of a highly-recuperated cycle, busbar efficiencies in the range of 45 - 50% are possible. Operation at high system pressure enables component size to be kept small, resulting in a low-cost, totally-modular nuclear power-generating system. The high performance, economic potential, and reliance on available technologies support near-term development of this power system.