Development of a design for the GT-MHR energy conversion unit

Since 1995, the General Atomics Company (USA) and OKBM have been jointly developing a design for GT-MHR — a modular helium-cooled reactor and energy-conversion unit with a direct gas-turbine cycle. The reactor power is 600 MW, and the reactor is cooled with helium at pressure 7 MPa. The energy conversion unit consists of a gas turbomachine, a recovery unit, preliminary and intermediate heat exchangers, and a generator. The turbomachine consists of a turbine, compressor, and a generator. The shaft of the turbomachine turns at a speed of 4400 rpm. Alternative designs for the energy conversion block are analyzed, which will enable making a final choice of a variant for its configuration. __________ Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 102, No. 1, pp. 57–63, January, 2007.