Recent Research Progress on Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Power Cycle in China

Abstract

China has started the investigations on supercritical carbon dioxide (S-CO2) power cycle since 2011. The aim of this project is to understand the feasibility and economics of coupling S-CO2 power cycle with Chinese Gen IV nuclear reactors. Up to now, the pre-concept design and feasibility evaluation has been accomplished. The focus in the next step is fundamental research on thermal-hydraulics and materials and Integral Test Loop design, construction, and operation. Nuclear Power Institute of China (NPIC) has been a leader in S-CO2 power cycle development in China. With contractors and collaborators from China and UK, NPIC has constructed a natural circulation test loop and started the Integral Test Loop design. In this paper, an overview of the progress on S-CO2 power cycle development in NPIC is provided. The testing results from a small-scaled natural circulation test loop, the CFD code verification and validation, and the considerations and design features of Integral Test Loop will be summarized.