Power-Conversion Cycles for Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactors

Abstract

Recently, CO₂ has gained wide attention as an alternative to water working fluid in power conversion cycles of a sodium-cooled fast reactors. Since the maximum temperatures of the second loop sodium are relatively low, it is important to optimize the corresponding power conversion cycle. Various Brayton gas-cycles are discussed in the paper along with the calculations of efficiencies. Helium is considered as an alternative to CO₂.