Dynamic Control Analysis of the AFR-100 SMR SFR With a Supercritical CO2 Cycle and Dry Air Cooling: Part II — Plant Control Under Varying Ambient Conditions

Abstract

Supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle power converters can benefit advanced nuclear reactors, as well as small modular reactors, by reducing the plant cost and increasing plant electrical output. The sCO2 cycles can also be designed for operation under direct dry air cooling. The paper presents the results of the coupled control analysis of a sCO2 cycle for a 100 MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor under changing ambient air temperatures. The optimum plant operation modes are identified.