Design of a Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Power Generation Cycle for Small Modular Reactors

Kelsa Benensky, Karen Bobkowski, Hardik Jasani, John Merlino
The Pennsylvania State University
Department of Nuclear and Mechanical Engineering

Background

Problem Statement

The mission of small modular reactors (SMRs) is to provide

safe and reliable small scale power to developing areas by
maximizing the efficiency, transportability, and
manufacturability of power plant design.

Current SMRs use steam in the secondary loop to rotate the

turbine blades and produce power. This working fluid
requires a high flow volume through large, multi-stage
turbines to achieve required power output.

System Components
The proposed design incorporates a supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO2) secondary loop to decrease size and increase
efficiency.
The entire system is made up of:
Primary Pressurized Water Loop
Intermediate Steam Loop
Secondary SCO2 Loop
o Steam-SCO2 Heat Exchanger
o Turbine
o Circulating Water-SCO2 Loop
o Compressor
Circulating Water Loop

Proposed Design
Heat Exchanger Selection

Working Fluid

A plate heat exchanger was chosen because of its

compatibility with SCO2 and large surface area that
maximizes heat transfer efficiency

SCO2 has the potential for 20x smaller turbine size and
less stages compared to steam for given power output

Heat Balance
The heat balance of the system was determined by Thermoflow software using
component inputs. The results produced the temperature, pressure, mass flow
rate, and enthalpy for each of the following state points:
State Enthalpy Temperature Pressure Mass Flow
Point (BTU/lb)
(F)
(psi) Rate (lb/s)
1
-27.2
82
1000
4922
2 -4.141
268.9
3060
4922
3
77.75
520
3000
4922
4
42.25
328.2
1000
4922

1.
2.
3.
4.

Inlet of Compressor
Inlet of Steam-SCO2 HxR
Inlet of Turbine
Inlet of Circulating Water-SCO2 HxR

These state points follow the Brayton cycle

model, depicted to the right
Results are shown in the table to the left

Conclusions
The proposed system design with a SCO2 working
fluid provides a net power output of 65 MWe and can
be improved to 73 MWe by adding a recuperation
cycle. This analysis proves that a SCO2 working fluid
has greater electrical power output potential than a
steam power conversion cycle of similar size.

Future Considerations
The secondary SCO2 loop is capable of being modelled with a
recuperator to provide additional power from the turbine. A low and
high temperature recuperator provides additional heat to the cycle
and results in an 18% increase in net power output.
In order for the proposed design to be competitive with steam
cycles, heat exchanger design must allow for high efficiencies.
Heat exchanger sizing also limits the viability of the system.
Turbo machinery materials research and sizing must be proven for
a system on the scale of MWe power output.
Thank you to: Bechtel Corporation Stephen Routh, James Haldeman, John Glen, Steven Kline, Desmond Chan
Penn State Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Department
ME Senior Design Director, Dr. Frecker and Section Professor, Mr. Rose