Abstract
This paper presents an original control system design that enables
electrical load-following with GTHTR300C, a nuclear gas
turbine cogeneration plant under development by JAEA for potential
deployment in developing countries. The plant operates on a
closed Brayton cycle directly heated by the helium gas coolant of a
small-sized Generation IV High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor
(HTGR), also known as Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR).
The control system is designed to follow daily electric load by
taking advantage of the unique operation characteristics of the
nuclear reactor and closed cycle gas turbine and the direct interface
of the nuclear heat source and gas turbine engine. The control
system integrates several fundamental control methods and permits
wide-ranging load follow at constant reactor power and high
thermal efficiency, which maximizes plant economics.
Control simulation of the overall plant system to follow daily
load changes representative of developing countries are performed
using a system analysis code in order to demonstrate a technical
feasibility of the system. The observable operation parameters
essential to the system control are identified that include reactor
outlet temperature, turbine inlet temperature, gas turbine rotational
speed, and so on. The simulations results show that the load-follow
can be effectively carried out by monitoring these parameters and
controlling them with suitable control apparatus.
