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Michael J. Driscoll

Bio: Michael J. Driscoll is an academic researcher from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Nuclear reactor core & Nuclear reactor. The author has an hindex of 19, co-authored 92 publications receiving 1405 citations.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a mostly thermodynamic comparison of the supercritical carbon dioxide (S-CO2) cycle to helium Brayton, superheated steam, and supercritic...
Abstract: This paper consists of three parts. The first part presents a mostly thermodynamic comparison of the supercritical carbon dioxide (S-CO2) cycle to helium Brayton, superheated steam, and supercritic...

294 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Supercritical carbon dioxide cycles are a promising power conversion option for future nuclear reactors operating with a reactor outlet temperature in the range of 550 to 650°C as discussed by the authors, and they can be used for nuclear power conversion.
Abstract: Supercritical carbon dioxide cycles are a promising power conversion option for future nuclear reactors operating with a reactor outlet temperature in the range of 550 to 650°C. The recompression c...

288 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: In this paper, various indirect power cycle options for a helium cooled gas cooled fast reactor (GFR) with particular focus on a supercritical indirect cycle are investigated as an alternative to a helium-cooled direct cycle GFR.

87 citations

Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Jan 2002
TL;DR: In this paper, a gas-cooled, modular fast breeder this paper was proposed to use supercritical CO{sub 2 as the working fluid in a closed circuit Brayton cycle.
Abstract: Although proposed more than 35 years ago, the use of supercritical CO{sub 2} as the working fluid in a closed circuit Brayton cycle has so far not been implemented in practice. Industrial experience in several other relevant applications has improved prospects, and its good efficiency at modest temperatures (e.g., {approx}45% at 550 deg. C) make this cycle attractive for a variety of advanced nuclear reactor concepts. The version described here is for a gas-cooled, modular fast reactor. In the proposed gas-cooled fast breeder reactor design of present interest, CO{sub 2} is also especially attractive because it allows the use of metal fuel and core structures. The principal advantage of a supercritical CO{sub 2} Brayton cycle is its reduced compression work compared to an ideal gas such as helium: about 15% of gross power turbine output vs. 40% or so. This also permits the simplification of use of a single compressor stage without inter-cooling. The requisite high pressure ({approx}20 MPa) also has the benefit of more compact heat exchangers and turbines. Finally, CO{sub 2} requires significantly fewer turbine stages than He, its principal competitor for nuclear gas turbine service. One disadvantage of CO{sub 2} in a direct cycle application is themore » production of N-16, which will require turbine plant shielding (albeit much less than in a BWR). The cycle efficiency is also very sensitive to recuperator effectiveness and compressor inlet temperature. It was found necessary to split the recuperator into separate high-and low-temperature components, and to employ intermediate re-compression, to avoid having a pinch-point in the cold end of the recuperator. Over the past several decades developments have taken place that make the acceptance of supercritical CO{sub 2} systems more likely: supercritical CO{sub 2} pipelines are in use in the western US in oil-recovery operations; 14 advanced gas-cooled reactors (AGR) are employed in the UK at CO{sub 2} temperatures up to 650; and utilities now have experience with Rankine cycle power plants at pressures as high as 25 MPa. Furthermore, CO{sub 2} is the subject of R and D as the working fluid in schemes to sequester CO{sub 2} from fossil fuel combustion and for refrigeration service as a replacement for CFCs. (authors)« less

52 citations

Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Jan 2004
TL;DR: The supercritical CO2 cycle is well suited to any type of nuclear reactor with core outlet temperature above ∼ 500°C and the turbomachinery is highly compact and achieves efficiencies of more than 90% as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Brayton cycles are currently being extensively investigated for possible use with nuclear reactors in order to reduce capital cost, shorten construction period and increase nuclear power plant efficiency. The main candidates are the well-known helium Brayton cycle and the less familiar supercritical CO2 cycle, which has been given increased attention in the past several years. The main advantage of the supercritical CO2 cycle is comparable efficiency with the helium Brayton cycle at significantly lower temperature (550°C/823K), but higher pressure (20MPa/200 normal atmospheres). By taking advantage of the abrupt property changes near the critical point of CO2 the compression work can be reduced, which results in a significant efficiency improvement. Among the surveyed compound cycles the recompression cycle offers the highest efficiency, while still retaining simplicity. The turbomachinery is highly compact and achieves efficiencies of more than 90%. Preliminary assessment of the control scheme has been performed as well. It was found that conventional inventory control could not be applied to the supercritical CO2 recompression cycle. The conventional bypass control is applicable. The reference cycle achieves 46% thermal efficiency at the compressor outlet pressure of 20MPa and turbine inlet temperature of 550°C. The sizing of the heat exchangers and turbomachinery has been performed. The recuperator specific volume is 0.39m3 /MWe and pre-cooler specific volume 0.08m3 /MWe . For the reference 600MWth reactor this translates to ∼ 99m3 heat exchanger core for the recuperator and ∼ 21m3 for the pre-cooler. Overall the cycle offers an attractive alternative to the steam cycle. The supercritical CO2 cycle is well suited to any type of nuclear reactor with core outlet temperature above ∼ 500°C.© 2004 ASME

42 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a review of the central receiver designs for concentrating solar power applications with high-temperature power cycles is presented, which includes low-cost and durable materials that can withstand high concentration ratios (~1000 suns), heat-transfer fluids, and low radiative and convective heat losses leading to a thermal efficiency >90%.
Abstract: This paper reviews central receiver designs for concentrating solar power applications with high-temperature power cycles Desired features include low-cost and durable materials that can withstand high concentration ratios (~1000 suns), heat-transfer fluids that can withstand temperatures >650 °C, high solar absorptance, and low radiative and convective heat losses leading to a thermal efficiency >90% Different receiver designs are categorized and evaluated in this paper: (1) gas receivers, (2) liquid receivers, and (3) solid particle receivers For each design, the following information is provided: general principle and review of previous modeling and testing activities, expected outlet temperature and thermal efficiency, benefits, perceived challenges, and research needs Emerging receiver designs that can enable higher thermal-to-electric efficiencies (50% or higher) using advanced power cycles such as supercritical CO 2 closed-loop Brayton cycles include direct heating of CO 2 in tubular receiver designs (external or cavity) that can withstand high internal fluid pressures (~20 MPa) and temperatures (~700 °C) Indirect heating of other fluids and materials that can be stored at high temperatures such as advanced molten salts, liquid metals, or solid particles are also being pursued, but challenges include stability, heat loss, and the need for high-temperature heat exchangers

587 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-Energy) gave DE-AR0000471 and DE-ARM0000181 for the first time, respectively.
Abstract: United States. Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (Awards DE-AR0000471 and DE-AR0000181)

483 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a review of the works published in the area of sCO2 power cycles and provide a comparison of the claimed performance of each one of them, based on the values declared in the original papers.

420 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the behavior of developmental CO2 Brayton turbomachinery in response to a fluctuating thermal input, much like the short-term transients experienced in solar environments, is analyzed.

390 citations