SNL Brayton Experiment Data Report 6 1 2006

SANDIA REPORT
SAND2006-3485
Unlimited Release
Small Scale Closed Brayton Cycle

Dynamic Response Experiment Results
Steven A. Wright, Milton E. Vernon, Paul Pickard
Prepared by
Sandia National Laboratories
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 and Livermore, California 94550
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2
Abstract
The DOE Generation IV Program is investigating advanced power conversion cycles for next
generation nuclear power plants. Brayton cycles using inert or other gas working fluids have the
potential for operation at the higher outlet temperatures characteristic of Gen IV reactors and can
potentially provide higher efficiency and more compact power conversion systems than current
steam cycles. Although open Brayton cycle are in use for many applications (combined cycle
power plants, aircraft engines), only a few closed Brayton cycles have been tested. Experience
with closed Brayton cycles coupled to nuclear reactors is even more limited. Current projections
of Brayton cycle performance are based on analytic models developed in at the National Labs,
Universities or NASA. There is relatively limited experimental data to use for model
comparisons or validation. This report describes the results of a series of test performed using
the recently constructed Sandia Brayton Loop (SBL-30) to develop steady state data, transient
data, flow data and control information data for a closed loop gas Brayton cycle. The Sandia
Brayton loop is capable of operating with ideal gases or gas mixtures including helium and
argon, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. (far from the critical point). The data from the non-CO2
tests are presented in this report, and a subsequent report will be submitted that includes the CO2
Brayton data and analysis. The mix of gases used in the experiments reported here was selected
to span the range of gas properties from ideal gases to non-ideal gases such as CO2. This data
provides a basis for comparing and validating aspects of the various steady state and dynamic
models being used to design Brayton cycles for next generation reactors.
3 6/1/2006
Table of Contents
ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................................................3
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................................4
LIST OF FIGURES.....................................................................................................................................................6
LIST OF TABLES.......................................................................................................................................................8
1 INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................................9
1.1 SUPERCRITICAL CO2 BRAYTON CYCLES ....................................................................................................9
1.2 CLOSED BRAYTON CYCLE TEST MATRIX ..................................................................................................10
1.3 REPORT CONTENTS ...................................................................................................................................10
2 SANDIA BRAYTON TEST LOOP ................................................................................................................11
2.1 SANDIA BRAYTON LOOP SUMMARY DESIGN DESCRIPTION.......................................................................11
2.2 DUCTING AND INSTRUMENTATION DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................14
3 MEASURED TEST DATA FROM THE SANDIA CLOSED BRAYTON LOOP ....................................17
3.1 TEST MATRIX ............................................................................................................................................17
3.1.1 Characteristic Flow Test .....................................................................................................................18
3.1.2 Static Operating Power Curve Test .....................................................................................................19
3.1.3 Dynamic Tests......................................................................................................................................20
3.1.4 Inventory Control Tests .......................................................................................................................20
3.2 TEST CONDUCT .........................................................................................................................................21
3.2.1 Fill and Purge Sequence......................................................................................................................21
3.2.2 Startup Sequence .................................................................................................................................21
3.2.3 Inventory Control.................................................................................................................................22
3.2.4 Turbine Inlet Temperature Changes, (Transient and Steady State Data)............................................22
3.2.5 Fill Gas Change...................................................................................................................................23
3.2.6 RPM Changes at Constant TIT (Static Power Operating Curve Tests and Pressure Operating Lines
or Flow Curves) .................................................................................................................................................23
3.2.7 Transient effects of rpm level changes.................................................................................................23
3.2.8 System Shutdown .................................................................................................................................23
3.3 STEADY STATE FLOW CURVE VALIDATION TEST RESULTS ......................................................................25
3.4 STATIC CLOSED LOOP TEST ......................................................................................................................29
3.5 STEADY STATE INVENTORY CONTROL TEST DATA ...................................................................................32
3.6 TRANSIENT TEST DATA .............................................................................................................................34
4 SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF GEOMETRY, DIMENSIONS AND TEST CONDITIONS................39
4.1 GEOMETRY AND TEST CONDITIONS FOR STEADY STATE FLOW DATA ......................................................39
4.2 TEST CONDITIONS FOR STEADY STATE INVENTORY CONTROL DATA .......................................................41
4.3 GEOMETRY AND TEST CONDITIONS FOR ALL TESTS ..................................................................................42
4.3.1 Detailed Description of the Capstone C30 Radial Turbine and Compressors ....................................42
4.3.1.1 Capstone C-30 Compressor and Turbine ................................................................................................... 42
4.3.2 Summary Description of the Sandia Brayton Loop Geometry and Dimensions ..................................45
4.3.2.1 Description of ducting and piping.............................................................................................................. 45
4.3.2.2 Watlow heater description ......................................................................................................................... 47
4.3.2.3 Precooler or waste heat gas chiller description .......................................................................................... 48
5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SANDIA BRAYTON TEST LOOP DESCRIPTION .................49
5.1 CLOSED BRAYTON CYCLE TEST-LOOP DESCRIPTION ................................................................................49
5.2 CAPSTONE TURBO-ALTERNATOR-COMPRESSOR MODIFICATIONS ............................................................50
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5.3 GAS HEATER DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................................................59
5.3.1 Electrical Power Description ..............................................................................................................65
5.4 GAS COOLER DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................................................67
5.5 DUCTING AND INSTRUMENTATION DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................72
6 SUMMARY AND OBSERVATIONS ............................................................................................................77
REFERENCES ..........................................................................................................................................................79
5 6/1/2006
List of Figures
FIGURE 2.1: SCHEMATIC BLOCK DIAGRAM OF SANDIA BRAYTON LOOP. THE MEASURED GAS TEMPERATURE,
PRESSURE AND POWER LEVELS FOR A TEST THAT USED N2 30%HE AS THE WORKING FLUID IS ILLUSTRATED.
RED NUMBERS INDICATE COOLANT STATE POINT IDENTIFIERS FOR THE HARDWARE:MODELS.............................12
FIGURE 2.2: ASSEMBLY DRAWING OF THE SANDIA CLOSED-BRAYTON-CYCLE TEST-LOOP (SBL-30). ........................13
FIGURE 2.3: SANDIA BRAYTON LOOP AS INSTALLED AT SANDIA. THE LOOP IS UN-INSULATED IN THIS FIGURE. THE
HEATER IS ON THE LEFT, THE GAS CHILLER ON THE RIGHT, AND THE TAC IN THE MIDDLE..................................13
FIGURE 2.4: FULLY INSTALLED AND INSULATED SANDIA BRAYTON LOOP. .................................................................14
FIGURE 2.5: TOP VIEW SCHEMATIC OF SANDIA BRAYTON LOOP AND LOCATION OF MAJOR TEMPERATURE AND
PRESSURE SENSORS, AND THE CONTROLLERS......................................................................................................15
FIGURE 3.1: COMPARISON OF THE MEASURE OPERATING CURVE (PRESSURE RATIO VERSUS FLOW MEASURED FROM
TEST TT4) FOR THE CAPSTONE C30 TURBINE AND COMPRESSOR VERSUS PREDICTED CURVES (SOLID LINES)
BASED ON THE MEAN LINE FLOW ANALYSIS OFF-DESIGN PERFORMANCE MODELS FOR A 285 K COMPRESSOR
INLET TEMPERATURE AND A 700 K TURBINE INLET TEMPERATURE. THE MEASURED DATA (BLUE TRIANGLES)
CORRESPONDS TO A SHAFT SPEED OF 40, 46, 57, AND 62 KRPM ...........................................................................19
FIGURE 3.2: OPERATIONAL CURVE OF SANDIA BRAYTON LOOP SHOWING POWER PRODUCED BY THE ALTERNATOR
VERSUS SHAFT SPEED FOR TURBINE INLET TEMPERATURES OF 600 K, 650 K, THROUGH 880 K. NOTE THE
TURBINE INLET TEMPERATURE MUST BE ABOVE 650 K BEFORE SELF SUSTAINING OPERATIONS CAN BE
MAINTAINED AT ANY TURBINE INLET TEMPERATURE. .........................................................................................20
FIGURE 3.3: TYPICAL OPERATIONAL TRANSIENT OF THE SANDIA BRAYTON LOOP. THE TOP IMAGE SHOWS THE
RECORDED GAS TEMPERATURE DATA (DEGREES K) ALONG WITH THE HEATER POWER (SHOWN AS THE BLUE LINE
IN PERCENT THERMAL POWER). BASED ON RESISTANCE MEASUREMENTS 100% POWER IS 62.5 KW OF HEATER
POWER. THE LOWER SET OF CURVES SHOWS THE PRESSURE DATA FOR ALL PRESSURE TAPS ON THE HIGH AND
LOW PRESSURE LEGS OF THE LOOP. .....................................................................................................................24
FIGURE 3.4: TYPICAL MEASURED DATA WITH A BLOW UP OF THE TURBOMACHINERY SHAFT SPEED AND THE
MEASURED ALTERNATOR POWER. THIS IS THE SAME DATA AS SHOWN IN THE PREVIOUS FIGURE EXCEPT THAT
THE LOWER PLOT IS EXPANDED TO SHOW THE SHAFT SPEED AND ALTERNATOR POWER......................................25
FIGURE 3.5: MEASURED COMPRESSOR AND TURBINE PRESSURE RATIO AS FUNCTION OF MASS FLOW RATE. MASS
FLOW RATE IS IN KG/S OF FLUID BEING TESTS......................................................................................................26
FIGURE 3.6: OPERATING COMPRESSOR PRESSURE RATIO LINES PLOTTED AS A FUNCTION OF DIMENSIONLESS FLOW. ..28
FIGURE 3.7: OPERATING COMPRESSOR PRESSURE RATIO LINES PLOTTED AS A FUNCTION OF DIMENSIONLESS FLOW
WITH DATA FOR CO2 INCLUDED AND ON AN EXPANDED SCALE. .........................................................................29
FIGURE 3.8: POWER OPERATING CURVE FOR VARIOUS GASES AND FOR FIXED TURBINE INLET TEMPERATURES PLOTTED
AS A FUNCTION OF SHAFT SPEED. ........................................................................................................................31
FIGURE 3.9: LARGER SCALE PLOT OF THE OPERATING POWER CURVE FOR VARIOUS GASES AND FOR FIXED TURBINE
INLET TEMPERATURES.........................................................................................................................................32
FIGURE 3.10: MEASURED RESULTS OF INVENTORY CONTROL TESTS SHOWING THE ALTERNATOR POWER AS A
FUNCTION OF FILL GAS PRESSURE. THESE DATA WERE TAKEN AT STATE POINTS NEAR ZERO NET POWER
GENERATION AS THE POWER LEVELS ARE SMALL (A FEW HUNDRED WATTS) COMPARED TO MAXIMUM POWER
LEVELS ATTAINABLE OF 10-30 KWE. ..................................................................................................................33
FIGURE 3.11: PLOT OF INVENTORY COEFFICIENT (ELECTRICAL POWER PER KPA) WHEN MEASURED OVER THE RANGE
OF -250 - + 250 WE AND PLOTTED AS A FUNCTION OF MOLECULAR WEIGHT. NOTE THAT THE ARGON DATA IS AT
700 K NOT AT 650 K. ..........................................................................................................................................34
FIGURE 3.12: SCREEN IMAGES OF MEASURED TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE DATA FOR N2 AND N2-10%AR. TEST
DATE WAS 06-01-11............................................................................................................................................36
FIGURE 3.13: SCREEN IMAGES OF MEASURED TEMPERATURE AND RPM AND ALTERNATOR POWER DATA FOR N2 AND
N2-10%AR. TEST DATE WAS 06-01-11..............................................................................................................36
FIGURE 3.14: SCREEN IMAGES OF MEASURED TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE DATA FORARGON AND ARGON 10%HE.
TEST DATE WAS 06-03-16...................................................................................................................................37
FIGURE 3.15: SCREEN IMAGES OF MEASURED TEMPERATURE AND RPM AND ALTERNATOR POWER DATA FOR ARGON
AND AR-20%HE. TEST DATE WAS 06-03-16. .....................................................................................................37
FIGURE 3.16: SCREEN IMAGES OF MEASURED TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE DATA FOR N2-30%HE TEST DATE WAS
06-03-23.............................................................................................................................................................38
FIGURE 3.17: SCREEN IMAGES OF MEASURED TEMPERATURE AND RPM AND ALTERNATOR POWER DATA FOR N2-
30%HE. TEST DATE WAS 06-03-23. ...................................................................................................................38
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FIGURE 4.1: CAPSTONE C-30 COMPRESSOR AND TURBINE WHEELS INCLUDE THE GAS THRUST AND JOURNAL
BEARINGS. THE COMPRESSOR IS ON THE LEFT SIDE AND IS RELATIVELY COOL, (GREEN COLORS) AND THE
TURBINE IS ON THE RIGHT (RED COLORS FOR THE HOUSING AND BEARINGS,COURTESY OF NASA).....................43
FIGURE 4.2: FACE OR FRONT VIEWS OF THE CAPSTONE C-30 COMPRESSOR (LEFT) AND TURBINE (RIGHT). NOTE THAT
THE COMPRESSOR WHEEL BLADES ARE BACK SWEPT WHILE THE TURBINE INLET BLADES ARE NOT. ALSO NOTE
THAT THE TURBINE BASE IS SCALLOPED, THIS IS LIKELY DONE TO HELP ACCOMMODATE THE GAS FLOW FROM
THE INLET NOZZLE AND PRESUMABLY TO HELP BALANCE THE THRUST LOADS. ..................................................44
FIGURE 4.3: COMPRESSOR WHEEL AND EXIT DIFFUSER (LEFT) AND TURBINE INLET NOZZLE (RIGHT). .........................44
FIGURE 5.1: SCHEMATIC OF THE UNMODIFIED C-30 WITH ARROWS ILLUSTRATING THE GAS FLOW PATH AND PROPOSED
HOUSING MODIFICATIONS. ..................................................................................................................................50
FIGURE 5.2: “HOT END” OF THE CAPSTONE C-30 MICRO-TURBINE SHOWING THE TURBINE WHEEL, THE COMBUSTOR
ANNULUS, AND THE GAS INJECTOR PASSAGES. ....................................................................................................51
FIGURE 5.3: PHOTO OF THE 14 TURBINE EXIT BLADES, THE TURBINE INLET ANNULUS, AND THE HIGH PRESSURE
RECUPERATOR EXIT. AN ANNULAR SHAPED “COMBUSTOR CAN” IS SLIPPED INTO THE TURBINE INLET ANNULUS
TO DIRECT THE GAS EXITING THE RECUPERATOR THROUGH THE INJECTOR PORTS TO THE HEATER. ....................52
FIGURE 5.4: “HOT” END OF THE CONNECTION FLOW PATHS BETWEEN THE INJECTOR PORTS AND THE HEAT INLET DUCT
MANIFOLD FOR THE C-30 CAPSTONE MICRO-TURBINE ASSEMBLY. ....................................................................53
FIGURE 5.5: CAPSTONE C-30 TURBO-ALTERNATOR-COMPRESSOR CUTAWAY WITH HIGH-PRESSURE ZONE
HIGHLIGHTED......................................................................................................................................................53
FIGURE 5.6: SIX TUBES PENETRATING THROUGH THE TURBINE EXIT DOME, THROUGH THE COMBUSTOR DOME SHAPED
ANNULUS (MIDDLE “DOME”), AND THROUGH THE TURBINE INLET DOME (SMALLER BOTTOM DOME SHAPED
ANNULUS). ..........................................................................................................................................................54
FIGURE 5.7: CAPSTONE C-30 TURBO-ALTERNATOR-COMPRESSOR ENGINEERING DRAWING CUTAWAY SHOWING THE
GAS FLOW PATH. ORANGE LINES SHOW THE FLOW PATH THROUGH THE COMPRESSOR AND RECUPERATOR, RED
LINES SHOW THE FLOW PATH THROUGH THE TURBINE AND RECUPERATOR. ........................................................54
FIGURE 5.8: "COLD END" OF THE CAPSTONE C-30 MICRO-TURBINE ILLUSTRATING THE SPIRAL RECUPERATOR, THE
ALTERNATOR, AND THE INLET COOLING PASSAGES ALONG THE ALTERNATOR. ...................................................55
FIGURE 5.9: ASSEMBLY DRAWING OF THE SANDIA CLOSED-BRAYTON-CYCLE TEST-LOOP (SBL-30). ........................56
FIGURE 5.10: FULLY MODIFIED AND ASSEMBLED CAPSTONE C-30 CLOSED-BRAYTON LOOP AS ASSEMBLED AT THE
MANUFACTURES (BARBER-NICHOLS INC.) IS ILLUSTRATED. THE GAS CHILLER IS IN THE FORE GROUND AND THE
HEATER IS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE IMAGE........................................................................................................56
FIGURE 5.11: SANDIA BRAYTON LOOP AS INSTALLED AT SANDIA. THE LOOP IS UN-INSULATED IN THIS FIGURE. THE
HEATER IS ON THE LEFT, THE GAS CHILLER ON THE RIGHT, AND THE TAC IN THE MIDDLE..................................57
FIGURE 5.12 OVERVIEW OF THE SANDIA BRAYTON LOOP AS VIEWED FROM THE COMPRESSOR INLET.........................57
FIGURE 5.13: FULLY INSTALLED AND INSULATED SANDIA BRAYTON LOOP. ...............................................................58
FIGURE 5.14: WATLOW 80 KW BRAYTON LOOP GAS HEATER AND CONTROLLER. .......................................................59
FIGURE 5.15: “U” SHAPED HEATER ELEMENTS USED IN THE WATLOW HEATER. THE PHOTO SHOWS THE HEATER
ELEMENTS, THE GRID SPACER WIRES, THE BAFFLE, AND THE GAS EXIT THERMOCOUPLE (VERTICAL ROD). .........60
FIGURE 5.16 WATLOW 80 KW GAS HEATER ELEMENT DESIGN DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATIONS..................................64
FIGURE 5.17: ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AND COOLING WATER SUPPLY FOR THE SBL-30 AS LOCATED IN BUILDING
6585 ROOM 2504. ALL POWER IS SUPPLIED BY THE 480 3PHASE 100 AMP SERVICE FROM THE WALL. THE
COOLING WATER IS PROVIDED BY THE BUILDING FACILITIES MANAGER..............................................................66
FIGURE 5.18: ELECTRICAL POWER CIRCUIT FOR THE HEATER PROVIDED BY WATLOW................................................67
FIGURE 5.19: IMAGE OF THE BASCO/WHITLOCK SHELL AND TUBE GAS CHILLER. INLET WATER FLOWS FROM THE
UPPER RIGHT SIDE OF THE IMAGE TO THE LOWER LEFT, WHILE GAS FLOWS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. ...........68
FIGURE 5.20: VIEW OF THE BASCO/WHITLOCK SHELL AND TUBE HEAT EXCHANGER GAS INLET FLANGE, SHOWING THE
STAINLESS STEEL TUBES......................................................................................................................................69
FIGURE 5.21: GAS COOLER SPECIFICATIONS (1)...........................................................................................................70
FIGURE 5.22: GAS COOLER DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS....................................................................................................71
FIGURE 5.23: TOP VIEW SCHEMATIC OF SANDIA BRAYTON LOOP AND LOCATION OF MAJOR TEMPERATURE AND
PRESSURE SENSORS, AND THE CONTROLLERS......................................................................................................72
FIGURE 5.24: TURBINE INLET TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE SENSORS AND THEIR FEED THROUGH PORTS. NOTE THAT
THESE INSTRUMENTS MEASURE THE GAS TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE IN ONE OF THE SIX HEATER EXIT TUBES.
...........................................................................................................................................................................74
FIGURE 5.25: COMPRESSOR INLET TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE FEED THROUGH PORT AND SENSORS.......................75
7 6/1/2006
List of Tables
TABLE 1-1: INITIAL PROPOSED TEST MATRIX ...............................................................................................................10
TABLE 2-1: LIST OF RECORDED DATA CHANNELS, PROVIDING THE CHANNEL NUMBER, NAME, DISPLAY NAME AND A
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EACH RECORDED CHANNEL.............................................................................................16
TABLE 3-1: TEST MATRIX OF TESTS COMPLETED IN THE FIRST PHASE OF TESTING. EACH TEST OR TEST PORTION
PROVIDES DATA FOR FLOW CHARACTERIZATION INFORMATION, FOR TRANSIENT MODELING, FOR STATIC LOOP
PERFORMANCE OR FOR INVENTORY CONTROL TESTS...........................................................................................18
TABLE 3-2: LIST OF PURE GASES AND GAS PROPERTIES USED IN THE SANDIA BRAYTON LOOP. TESTS OF PURE N2 AND
CO2 HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. PURE HE HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED AND PROBABLY WILL NOT BE BECAUSE OF
ITS LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT.............................................................................................................................26
TABLE 3-3: LIST OF GAS MIXES AND THEIR GAS PROPERTIES TESTED IN THE SANDIA BRAYTON LOOP. .......................27
TABLE 3-4: FILE NAMES CONTAINING THE COMPLETE SANDIA BRAYTON LOOP OPERATIONS......................................35
TABLE 4-1: MEASURED DATE FOR PURE NITROGEN AT TIT=700 K, TEST DATE OF 06-01-19. ......................................39
TABLE 4-2: MEASURED DATE FOR PURE NITROGEN, 9.4% ARGON AT TIT=700 K, TEST DATE OF 06-01-11. ...............39
TABLE 4-3: MEASURED DATE FOR PURE ARGON AT TIT=800 K, TEST DATE OF 06-03-16. ..........................................40
TABLE 4-4: MEASURED DATE FOR PURE ARGON/ 20% HELIUM AT TIT=870 K, TEST DATE OF 06-03-16. ....................40
TABLE 4-5: MEASURED DATE FOR PURE NITROGEN / 30% HELIUM AT TIT=750 K, TEST DATE OF 06-03-23...............40
TABLE 4-6: MEASURED DATE FOR NITROGEN / 30% HELIUM AT TIT=900 K, TEST DATE OF 06-03-23........................40
TABLE 4-7: MEASURED DATE FOR NITROGEN / 30% HELIUM AT TIT=850 K, TEST DATE OF 06-03-23........................41
TABLE 4-8: MEASURED DATE FOR PURE NITROGEN AT TIT=870 K, TEST DATE OF 05-09-13. .....................................41
TABLE 4-9: MEASURED DATA FOR PURE CO2 AT TIT=700 K, TEST DATE OF 06-05-25...............................................41
TABLE 4-10: MEASURED DATA FOR THE INVENTORY CONTROL TESTS.........................................................................42
TABLE 4-11: ESTIMATE OF CAPSTONE C-30 TURBINE DIMENSIONS ............................................................................45
TABLE 4-12: ESTIMATE OF CAPSTONE C-30 COMPRESSOR DIMENSIONS .....................................................................45
TABLE 4-13: VOLUMES OF THE DUCTING AND PIPING COMPONENTS IN THE SANDIA BRAYTON LOOP..........................46
TABLE 4-14: TOTAL VOLUME GAS LOOP. .....................................................................................................................46
TABLE 4-15: DUCT AND COMPONENT VOLUMES, MASS, LENGTH, AND HYDRAULIC DIAMETER....................................47
TABLE 4-16: WATLOW HEATER DESCRIPTION..............................................................................................................47
TABLE 4-17: BASCO/WHITLOCK GAS CHILLER HYDRAULIC AND HEAT TRANSFER PROPERTIES USED IN THE RPCSIM
MODEL FOR THE SANDIA BRAYTON LOOP ...........................................................................................................48
TABLE 5-1: WATLOW 80 KW GAS HEATER VESSEL PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS. ..........................................................61
TABLE 5-2: WATLOW GAS HEAT PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE IMMERSION HEATERS AND THEIR MATERIAL
SPECIFICATIONS. .................................................................................................................................................62
TABLE 5-3: FLUID HYDRAULIC AND HEAT TRANSFER PROPERTIES USED IN THE RPCSIM FOR THE SANDIA BRAYTON
LOOP SBL-30. ....................................................................................................................................................62
TABLE 5-4 WATLOW GAS HEATER VESSEL DESIGN DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATIONS. .................................................63
TABLE 5-5: MAXIMUM AND TYPICAL POWER DRAWS/ SUPPLY FORM CAPSTONE POWER MANAGEMENT CIRCUITRY 65
TABLE 5-6: BASCO/WHITLOCK GAS CHILLER HYDRAULIC AND HEAT TRANSFER PROPERTIES USED IN THE RPCSIM
MODEL FOR THE SANDIA BRAYTON LOOP ...........................................................................................................68
TABLE 5-7: DESCRIPTION OF INSTRUMENTATION, FEEDTHROUGHS, AND CONNECTORS AT EACH STATION IDENTIFIED IN
FIGURE 5.23........................................................................................................................................................73
TABLE 5-8: VOLUMES ON THE COMPONENTS IN THE GAS LOOP....................................................................................76
TABLE 5-9: TOTAL VOLUME GAS LOOP. .......................................................................................................................76
TABLE 5-10: DUCT AND COMPONENT VOLUMES, MASS, LENGTH, AND HYDRAULIC DIAMETER....................................77
8 6/1/2006
1 Introduction
The Generation IV Program is developing advanced reactors and power conversion cycles for
next generation nuclear power plants. The advanced reactor systems being investigated include
liquid metal and gas cooled systems that have the potential for higher outlet temperatures than
current light water reactors. The Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR) , Lead Fast Reactor (LFR), Gas Fast
Reactor (GFR) and the Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) cover an outlet temperature
range of 500 to 950 C (~770 to 1220 K). Brayton cycles using inert or other gas working fluids
have the potential for operation at these higher temperatures and can potentially provide higher
efficiency and more compact power conversion systems than current steam cycles.
Although open Brayton cycle are in use for many applications (combined cycle power plants,
aircraft engines), only a few closed Brayton cycles have been tested (Suid, 1990). Experience
with closed Brayton cycles coupled to nuclear reactors is even more limited (Frutschi, 2005).
Current projections of Brayton cycle performance are based on analytic models developed in at
the National Labs, Universities or NASA. There is relatively limited experimental data to use
for model comparisons or validation. This report describes the results of a series of test
performed using the recently constructed Sandia Brayton Loop (SBL-30) to develop steady state
data, transient data, flow data and control information data for a closed loop gas Brayton cycle
(Wright, 2005 and 2006). This data provides a basis for comparing and validating aspects of the
various steady state and dynamic models being used to design Brayton cycles for next generation
reactors.
1.1 Supercritical CO2 Brayton Cycles

Of particular interest is the super-critical carbon-dioxide (S-CO2) Brayton cycle which uses CO2
as the working fluid. The super-critical CO2 Brayton cycle is considered promising because it
can achieve very high efficiencies (40-50%) at relatively low temperatures (< 1000 K) and with
very compact turbo-machinery. It is expected that the low temperatures required by S-CO2
Brayton loops will allow the use of standard metals such as stainless steels to fabricate both the
reactor and the Brayton cycle components, with the potential for reduced costs. Likewise the
very compact turbomachinery is expected to result in reduced costs as well. The high efficiency
occurs because the very little work is required by the compressor to pump the supercritical fluid.
In addition the cycle also takes advantage of other non-ideal gas behavior near the critical point
(such as increased heat capacity) to improve efficiency because heat rejection occurs more nearly
at constant temperature. (An ideal cycle (Carnot) rejects heat at constant temperature.)
No supercritical CO2 test loop has been developed, though small (<1 MWe) and medium scale
(10-30 MWe) systems are planned. Even though the Sandia Brayton Loop is not operated with
CO2 near the critical point, the loop and test data will provide relevant data for a variety of gases
including inert gases, nitrogen, CO2 and gas mixtures from an operating Brayton loop. To the
extent possible the existing Sandia Brayton Cycle test loop will be used to help develop and
validate the current DOE Program dynamic and steady state models.
The goal of this experimental task focuses on providing data to verify simulation models in four
technical areas. The technical issues that will be covered include:
9 6/1/2006
1. the prediction of portions of the characteristic flow curves for the turbine and the
compressor,
2. the prediction of the static/steady-state behavior of a complete loop (including the
expected operational curves that predict power generation as a function of shaft speed for
various fixed turbine inlet temperatures),
3. the ability of the dynamic systems models to predict simple transients (10% step changes
in shaft speed or other more complex transients such as startup and shutdown), and
4. the prediction of selected operational aspects of various control strategies.
The Sandia Brayton loop is capable of operating with ideal gases or gas mixtures include helium
and argon as well as with mixtures of helium, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. (far from the critical
point). The data from the non-CO2 tests are presented in this report, and a subsequent report will
be provided that includes the CO2 Brayton data and analysis. The mix of gases used in the
experiments reported here was selected to span the range of gas properties from ideal gases to
non-ideal gases such as CO2.
1.2 Closed Brayton Cycle Test matrix

Table 1-1 illustrates a summary of the initially proposed test matrix. The test matrix was
envisioned to use various working fluids that ranged from ideal (Helium and Argon) to very non-
ideal such as CO2. In addition various binary gas mixtures were also proposed. Four types of
tests were planned, these include the four types just described (characteristic flow curve
determination, static CBC loop operational behavior tests, dynamic tests, and some control tests.
Because of the amount of data that would be collected from each test and to simplify the analysis
we limited the test matrix to these four tests and we focused on tests that could be performed
largely within the existing safety documentation. No hardware modifications to the loop were
made; however, the safety documentation was upgraded to include CO2 and CO2 gas mixture
testing.
Table 1-1: Initial proposed test matrix
Test Description / Gas Type Nitrogen Argon Helium CO2 Gas Mixtures
Flow Curve Validation Test X X X X
Static Closed Loop Test X X X X
Dynamic Test X X X X
Control Test (Inventory) X X X
1.3 Report Contents

Chapter 2 of this report describes the Sandia Brayton loop including photos and engineering
drawings of the actual hardware. Chapter 3 provides a description of the test matrix, the
rationale for using this test matrix, and the results of the testing. The tests results are grouped
into sub-sections which describe the four main types of tests that were performed. These include
data to help validate the turbo-compressor flow characteristics, static loop data that shows the
dependency between generated power versus shaft speed, a summary data of the transient test,
10 6/1/2006
and summary results of the inventory control tests. Chapter 4 provides a condensed version of
the details of the test conditions, and it also provides sufficient information, generally in tabular
form, to allow steady state and transient analysis of the CBC data. Chapter 5 provides additional
details of the Sandia Brayton loop - the test loop and the turbo compressor flow characteristics.
Chapter 6 provides the summary and some initial conclusions obtained from this data and also
introduces potential future work.
Numerous operations of the Brayton loop were performed but the time history data for only three
operations are described in this report. Steady state data was obtained from over six operations
of the loop. For each operation of the loop two figures are presented that summarize the
transient data and the steady state flow, static power curve, and inventory control data. The
third chapter of the report collates that data and presents it according to four types of tests
outlined in the test matrix. Thus the report has one section each for the flow curve validation
tests, the static closed loop test, the dynamic test, and the control test. Following the test results,
is a section that provides information including test data and loop data that is needed to model
each test. Generally, the steady state test results require less information to model, while the
dynamic model testing requires a complete description of the loop.
2 Sandia Brayton Test Loop

Few reactors have ever been coupled to closed Brayton-cycle systems. As a consequence of this
lack of experience, the mechanisms for control and the system behavior under dynamically
varying loads, during startup and shut down conditions, coupled to the requirements for safe and
near autonomous operation are uncertain or unfamiliar to the nuclear community. As a
consequence of this lack of experience Sandia National Laboratories sponsored a Laboratory
Directed Research and Development effort (LDRD) to study the coupling of nuclear reactors to
gas dynamic Brayton power conversion systems. (Advanced High Efficiency Direct Cycle Gas
Power Conversion Systems for Small Special Purpose Nuclear Power Reactors”, reference
SAND 2006-2518.) The research focused on three areas:
1. developing an integrated dynamic system model,
2. fabricating a 10-30 kWe closed Brayton cycle test loop (call the SBL-30, for the Sandia
Brayton Loop 30 kWe), and
3. validating these models by operating the Brayton test-loop.
Operation of the test-loop and developing the system models has allowed Sandia to develop a set
of tools and models that can be used to determine how nuclear reactors operate with gas turbine
power conversion systems. These tools are proving useful for evaluating control strategies, and
for modeling larger reactor systems, such as High Temperature Gas reactors and other Next
Generation Systems.
2.1 Sandia Brayton Loop Summary Design Description

Sandia contracted Barber-Nichols Inc. to design, fabricate, and assemble an electrically heated
CBC system (Barber-Nichols Inc, 2006). The system design is based on a commercially
available Capstone micro-turbine power plant (Wright 2005). This approach was taken because
it was the most cost effective among a number of approaches considered. All of the rotating
11 6/1/2006
components, the recuperator, the gas bearings, and the control components could be used in the
closed system. The Capstone open cycle gas turbine system was selected largely because it only
required modifying the housing to permit the attachment of an electric heater and a water cooled
gas chiller. This approach utilized all of the other components including the alternator and
associated rectification electronics and control hardware. The Sandia Brayton test loop uses a 30
kWe Capstone C-30 gas-micro-turbine generator that normally operates at 1144 K turbine inlet
temperature (TIT) with a shaft speed of 96,000 rpm (Capstone, 2005).
The CBC test-loop hardware is currently configured with a heater that is designed to ~80 kWt
with an outlet temperature of 1000 K. Improved heater systems that better simulate the thermal
hydraulics of nuclear reactors and that are capable of providing higher temperatures and more
power can be used in the future. At the present time the heater is limited to 63 kW and 900 K
outlet temperatures. The chiller is capable of rejecting up to 90 kWt and has a water flow rate of
68 liters/min of chilled water at 285 K=56 F. The Sandia house water supply is at 56 F. Figure
2.1 shows a block diagram of the loop and some measured gas temperatures and pressures for the
operation that used a gas mixture of 70% Nitrogen and 30% Helium. For these conditions the
heater power was 50 kW and the generated electrical power was 8 kWe which results in an
efficiency of 16%. The heater power is controlled by a 4-20 mA current source by a Sandia
provided National Instruments controller. The water flow rate is not directly controlled at this
time. Some minor modifications to the Sandia facilities were required to provide 122 kW of
electrical power at 480 V 3 phase, and the chilled water.
State Points in Loop
Hardware : Model
400 : 1
T=295 K
100 : 4 P= 0.95 MPa
T=900 K Turbine Compressor

h = ~0.85 h = ~0.85
Alternator Waste Heat Cooler
h = 0.95
Turbine Compressor
Reactor
94,000 rpm
T =900 K
fuel
200 : 5 500 : 2 8 kW
T=700 K T=466 K
80% = 50 kW
100%=62.5
N2 30%He T=680 K T=486K
0,21 kg/s P=0.22 MPa Recuperator
600 : 3 300 : 6
Figure 2.1: Schematic Block Diagram of Sandia Brayton Loop. The measured gas
temperature, pressure and power levels for a test that used N2 30%He as the working fluid
is illustrated. Red numbers indicate coolant state point identifiers for the
hardware:models.
Figure 2.2 shows an engineering drawing of the Brayton loop as developed. Figure 2.3 shows an
actual photo of the test loop as installed at Sandia and without the insulation added to the loop.
12 6/1/2006
Ducts and Expansion Joints
Gas Chiller
(~77 kW)
E-Heater (~ 80 kW)
Capstone C-30
Modified Housing
Heater Controller
(2x50 kWe)
Capstone Controller
Figure 2.2: Assembly drawing of the Sandia closed-Brayton-cycle test-Loop (SBL-30).
Figure 2.3: Sandia Brayton Loop as installed at Sandia. The loop is un-insulated in this
figure. The heater is on the left, the gas chiller on the right, and the TAC in the middle.
13 6/1/2006
Figure 2.4 shows a photo of the loop after the thermal insulation was added to the loop. The
initial tests at Sandia indicated that without the insulation the heat losses to the room were large
(10-20 kW) at the higher operating temperatures. With the insulation, heat losses are now
minimal (~ < 1-2 kW) even for TIT of 900 K. The loop operates quietly, requiring no hearing
protection, although it is available for use.
Figure 2.4: Fully installed and insulated Sandia Brayton Loop.
2.2 Ducting and Instrumentation Description

A schematic of the Sandia Brayton Loop is shown in Figure 2.5. This figure shows the location
of the pressure and temperature sensors used in the loop. The major sensors consist of
temperature and pressure measurements at either the entrance or exit of every major component.
The stations are labeled 1-6 starting at the compressor inlet. (The manufacturer used a different
numbering scheme when installing the instrumentation). This nomenclature starts with 100 (at
the turbine inlet) and then progresses around the loop in increments of 100. The loop also
contains a flow orifice at station 6B. The orifice is has a diameter of ½ the ducting inside
diameter and the pressure taps are at ½ and 1 times the diameter of the ducting. The ½ diameter
tap is located down stream of the orifice. For the gas temperature we use the temperature sensor
located at station 6. The flow is calculated using the methods described in ASME MFC-3M-
1989. In all cases type K thermocouples are used. For the gas temperature measurements the
thermocouples are 1/8” diameter ungrounded sheathed thermocouples. Other pressure tapes not
14 6/1/2006
shown in the diagram are located on the inlet and outlet flange of the Watlow heater. Similarly a
number of thermocouples were added to provide measurements of hot duct wall temperatures.
Pressure Taps, Temperature Taps, and other Hardware
Top view of SBL-30 Hardware and

Instrumentation Locations and Controllers
w1: T&P w6: T&P
1: T&P
6Β: P&∆
&∆P
&∆
2:T 6: T&P
Orifice Flow M eter
5: T&P
3: T&P
Gas
Water
4: T&P
Heater
Heater Controller
4B Capstone Cntrlr
Labview Real Time
Controller & DACs
Figure 2.5: Top view schematic of Sandia Brayton Loop and location of major temperature
and pressure sensors, and the controllers.
15 6/1/2006
Table 2-1: List of recorded data channels, providing the channel number, name, display
name and a brief description of each recorded channel.
Channel
Number Channel Name Display Name Description
1 T 100 T 100 Turb In Turbine Inlet Temperature
2 T 200 T 200 Turb Out Turbine Exit Temperature
Recuperator Hot Leg Exit Temperature or
3 T 300 T 300 GCool In Gas Chiller Inlet Temperature
4 T 400 T 400 Comp In Compressor Inlet Temperature
5 T 601 T 601 Htr In Heater Inlet Duct Gas Temperature after Manifold
6 T 700 T 700 Water Coolant Inlet Temperature
7 T 701 T 701 Water Coolant Outlet Temperature
8 T 500 T 500 Comp Out Not Available
9 CJ Temp 1 CJ Temp 1 Cold Junction Temperature in FP NI hardware-1st module
10 T 602 T602 Htr Man Pipe Heater Inlet Duct Manifold Wall Temperature
11 T 603 T603 Htr In Pipe Heater Inlet Duct Wall Temperature
12 T 302 T302 Chlr InDuct1 Gas Chiller Inlet Duct Wall Temperature 1
13 T 303 T303 Chlr InDuct2 Gas Chiller Inlet Duct Wall Temperature 2
14 T 101 T 101 Htr Out Heater Gas Outlet Temperature
15 T 102 T 102 Htr Flng Heater Outlet Flange Temperature
16 T 604 T 604 Htr In Heater Gas Inlet Temperature
17 T 103 T 103 Htr Elmt Heater Element Surface Temperature
18 CJ Temp 2 CJ Temp 2 Cold Junction Temperature in FP NI hardware-2nd module
19 P 100 P 100 Turbine Gas Inlet Pressure
20 P 200 P 200 Turbine Gas Outlet Pressure
Hot Leg Recuperator Gas Outlet Pressure
21 P 300 P 300 or Gas Chiller Inlet Pressure near Recuperator
22 P 400 P 400 Compressor Gas Inlet Pressure
23 P 500 P 500 Compressor Gas Outlet Pressure
24 P 600 P 600 Ambient Pressure Measured in NEMA box
Recuperator Cold Leg Outlet Pressure
25 P 601 P 601 Heater Inlet Duct Pressure and Recuperator Exit
26 P 700 P 700 Water Inlet Pressure
27 P 701 P 701 Water Outlet Pressure
28 FLOW 1 P301 FLOW P Orifice Pressure (upstream of Orifice)
29 FLOW 2 P302 FLOW dP Orifice Pressure Drop (1D 0.5 D)
30 Water Flow Water Flow (gpm) Water flow rate Gallons per Minute
31 P 101 P 101 Heater Outlet Pressure at Flange
32 P 604 P 604 Heater Inlet Pressure at Heater Entrance
33 Ambient Pressure Ambient Pressure Ambient Pressure Measured in NEMA box (=P600)
34 Mass Flow FLOW Mass flow rated based on Orifice Measurements
35 RPM RPM Shaft speed (revolutions per minute)
36 POWER POWER Alternator Power
37 T Aux 1 INVERTER POWER Inverter Power
38 T Aux 2 T Aux 2 Auxilliary Data Reported From Capstone Controller
45 CBC State CBC State Capstone Controller Error State
46 Sweep Mode Sweep Mode Sweep Mode Flag (for power sweeps)
47 Heater Delta T Heater Delta T Heater dT (T101-T604)
48 Target Inlet Temp Target Inlet Temp Target T100 Temperature
49 Target RPM Target RPM Target RPM
50 Heater Power % Heater Power % Heater Power in percent (100 % = 62.3 kWe, Nov 9, 2005)
51 OverTemp OverTemp Over temperature flag reported by Capstone Controller (?)
52 Sweep Time Sweep Time Time within sweep
53 On Time On Time Data Time (absolute time)
54 Spare A Spare A Spare A
55 Spare B Spare B Spare B
56 Spare C Spare C Spare C
57 Spare D Spare D Spare D
16 6/1/2006
3 Measured Test Data from the Sandia Closed Brayton
Loop
The Sandia Brayton loop was operated over six times to generate the data presented here. Each
operation consisted of up to 12 hours of operation and often began the previous day with filling
and purging of the system. The major tests were performed on 9/13/2005, 10/17, 2005,
1/11/2006, 3/16,2006 and 3/25/2006., Each test began with a fill and purge process, which
reduced the residual gases in the loop (air) to less than 2%. The fill and purge process lasts about
3 hours. After the system was filled with the correct gas and to the desired fill pressure the
Brayton loop operations began. Each operation generally lasted 6-12 hours and the 57 channels
of data was collected every second. The collected data is listed in Table 2-1 above. The full data
files are available in excel file formats on the DOE Next Generation Server. Truncated transient
data files are also available for dynamic simulation studies. The truncated files only provide the
required input data such as the heater power, the coolant flow rate and water temperature, and the
turbomachinery shaft speed.
3.1 Test Matrix

Test matrix options were discussed at the Gen IV Energy Conversion December 12, 2005
meeting at ANL and documented in a program letter dated, January 10, 2006 “NGen CBC Test
Matrix.doc”. This document identifies the high priority tests that could be performed in the near
term using the SNL closed Brayton test loop without modifications. The intent is to provide a
range of test data that can be used to evaluate features of current models. The proposed
experiments involve performing tests in 4 technical areas of interest:
1. Characteristic flow curve tests to allow predicting the portions of the characteristic flow
curves for small high speed radial turbines and compressors and the turbo-compressor
operating curve,
2. Static Power Generation Brayton tests – to allow modeling of the static/steady-state
behavior of a complete loop (including the expected operational curves that predict power
generation as a function of shaft speed for various fixed turbine inlet temperatures)
3. - Dynamic tests – to provide basic dynamic response data including startup shutdown
and step changes in shaft speed.
4. – Gas inventory control tests - to provide preliminary data for modeling inventory
control strategies for Closed Brayton Loops.
Table 3-1 illustrates the test matrix completed in the first phase of testing. The top of the table
summarizes the gas properties for each of the various working fluids. The test matrix is arranged
to test both ideal gases (Ar), non-ideal gases such as N2 and CO2, and gas mixtures. The check
boxes indicate the type of data that was obtained for each gas and can be categorized into one of
the four groups of tests listed above. The gas types and mixtures were purposely varied to study
a range of conditions. The ratio of Cp/Cv= γ varied from 1.407 (nitrogen) to 1.67 (Ar or Ar /He).
The molecular weight was varied from a low of 21 gm/mole to 44.01 gm/mole. Similarly the gas
conductivity was varied from 18 mW/m-K in Ar at 300 K to a high of 46 mW/m-K in a Nitrogen
30% Helium. These gases and gas mixtures were selected to see if the methods used by the
modelers were capable of predicting the observed integral effects on flow, pressure ratio, or
power level as well as differential data such as temperature differences or pressure drop.
17 6/1/2006
Table 3-1: Test matrix of tests completed in the first phase of testing. Each test or test
portion provides data for flow characterization information, for transient modeling, for
static loop performance or for inventory control tests.
SNL CBC Testing For Gen IV Pure Gases Gas Mixtures
1/11/2006
Test Date 10/17/2006 3/16/2006 5/25/2006 1/11/2006 3/16/2005 3/16/2005 3/23/2006
Gas Type Description N2 Ar CO2 He 90N2-10Ar 90Ar-10He 80Ar-20He 70N2-30He
Cp J/kg*K 1026 518 844 5378 941.4 571 634 1221
k(300K) mW/m*K 26 18 16 154 26 24 33.1 46
k(1000K) mW/m*K 60 42 54 336 59 56 72 105
Ro (J/kg*K) 297 208 188.9 2079 284 229 254 399
MW (gm/mole) 28 39.9 44.01 4 29 36.4 32.7 21
Gamma 1.407 1.66 1.316 1.66 1.433 1.66 1.66 1.486
SS Inventory Test x x Mix x
SS Temperature Increase x x x Mix x
SS Flow and RPM Op-Curves x x Mix x x x
SS Operating Pwr Curve x x Mix x x x
SS Operating Pressure Ratio x x Mix x x x
Transient RPM Step Decrease (5000 rpm) x Mix x x x
Transient RPM Step Increase (1000 rpm) x x x Mix x x x
Transient Startup x x x Mix x
Transient Shutdown x x Mix x x
SS MW Increase x
SS MW Decrease x x
A brief description of each test type is summarized below.
3.1.1 Characteristic Flow Test

These tests measured the pressure ratio and temperature ratio (or alternatively the efficiency of
the turbine and compressor) as a function of dimensionless flow at 40,000, 60,000, 80,000 and
90,000 rpm. Table 3-1 illustrates the results of this type of test for an actual test sequence. Table
3-1 compares the pressure ratio based on the flow data used in the Sandia RPCSIM dynamic
model with the measured data. The solid lines show the predicted pressure ratio flow curves for
the compressor and turbine, while the blue triangles show the operating points. Multiple
operating points can be obtained as a function of mass flow rate by simply changing the fill
pressure. However, changing the pressure will not affect the dimensionless flow, so there should
be no significant pressure ratio changes as a function of dimensionless flow for fixed shaft speed.
Still this test, as shown in the figure below, provides sufficient information to verify whether the
characteristic flow curves that are being used are accurately predicted and implemented, at least
for the operating range of a real machine.
18 6/1/2006
Pressure Ratio Versus Flow
Predicted Versus Measured
2.3
C30 Compressor
Pressure Ratio
2.1 Measured Pressure Ratio
rpm Versus Flow in SBL-30
1.9 62,000
57,000
1.7
Pressure Ratio
1.5 46,000 C30 Turbine

Pressure Ratio
40,000
1.3
1.1
0.9
0.7
0.5
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
Flow Rate (kg/s)
Figure 3.1: Comparison of the measure operating curve (pressure ratio versus flow
measured from test TT4) for the Capstone C30 turbine and compressor versus predicted
curves (solid lines) based on the mean line flow analysis off-design performance models for
a 285 K compressor inlet temperature and a 700 K turbine inlet temperature. The
measured data (blue triangles) corresponds to a shaft speed of 40, 46, 57, and 62 krpm
3.1.2 Static Operating Power Curve Test

The objective of these tests was to compare the results of a complete static or steady state closed
Brayton loop model with the real behavior. In these tests the power generation capability of the
whole loop is compared with the measured data. This report provides a complete description of
the CBC test loop to enable modelers to obtain this static or steady state information of generated
power as a function of rpm. The geometric and loop data needed includes the flow volumes,
heat transfer areas, hydraulic diameter and flow lengths. These data allow prediction of
electrical power generated and heater power versus rpm at various turbine inlet temperatures
such as 880 K, 800 K, 700 K, 600 K, 500 K for rpm values varying from 40,000-90000 rpm.
These curves (see Figure 3.2) are the power operating curves and provide a lot of insight into
how the complete system will behave over a variety of operating conditions that range from low
power operations, motoring, self-sustaining, and non-linear behavior of the system model.
The Sandia Brayton loop uses load or rpm control to control the power and rpm. This control
function was provided by the Capstone Controller. This mode of control uses a feedback loop to
continuously adjust the load (which is equivalent to the alternator electrical power) to match the
setpoint shaft speed. Because of this feature, the rpm and flow can be controlled at will. Higher
shaft speeds mean higher flow rates. For sufficiently high turbine inlet temperature (TIT), an
increase in shaft speed results in an increase in power, but only up to a point. Above a certain
well defined shaft speed, the shape of the power curve decreases for increasing rpm. Extensive
modeling of the closed Brayton loop indicates if the system were operated at a fixed load and
19 6/1/2006
without the feedback loop then the shaft speed would only operate on the negative sloped regions
of the power curve as these portions are dynamically stable (Wright 2003, 2005, and 2006).
10
650-K TIT N2 fill at 85 kPa
8
700-K TIT 300-K CIT
750-K TIT
6
600-K TIT
Alt Power (kW)
880-K TIT
4
-2
-4
0 20 40 60 80 100
Speed (kRPM)
Figure 3.2: Operational curve of Sandia Brayton Loop showing power produced by the
alternator versus shaft speed for turbine inlet temperatures of 600 K, 650 K, through 880
K. Note the turbine inlet temperature must be above 650 K before self sustaining
operations can be maintained at any turbine inlet temperature.
3.1.3 Dynamic Tests

Measure power transients and operating conditions for the loop are provided to enable analysis
of the transient data of any tests including startup and shut down. This report provides additional
data for thermal mass, volumes of ducting, and rotating inertia to enable transient modeling. The
required Brayton loop data description is provided in section 4.
3.1.4 Inventory Control Tests

Generally two control methods are proposed for the super critical CO2 loop. One involves
inventory control and the other involves bypass flow. In the recent set of tests only the inventory
control tests were performed. In these tests the Brayton loop was operated at steady state turbine
inlet temperature and shaft speed, then the fill gas pressure was reduced or increased, generally
by 10 kPa. The new steady state power levels generated by the alternator power level were
20 6/1/2006
recorded as well as the transient behavior of the loop. The observed transient effects were small
but some thermal and pressure fluctuations were observed after detailed examination of the
measured data. This data was most frequently performed at low power levels where the power
produced by the turbine was nearly balanced by the power consumed by the compressor. This
location was selected as it determines the self-running conditions and also the motor power
requirements for startup. Future control tests may incorporate a bypass valve if funding is
available.
3.2 Test Conduct

The conduct of each test consists of a number of sequences. The loop is first filled with the
desired working fluid, a system checkout and initialization process is then performed to assure
that the system components, data acquisition and controls are working, and that the proper
valves, pumps, electrical connections are all made. This initialization process is followed by
system startup followed by a sequence of power, rpm, pressure, gas type, and thermal
maneuvering tests that are designed to study some behavior. After the sequence of tests, the
shutdown sequence is initiated, followed by data storage and control systems shutdown. The
following paragraphs briefly describe the various sequences used to conduct the Brayton cycle
test loop operation.
3.2.1 Fill and Purge Sequence

For each test it is necessary to fill the loop with the desired gas. For each fill sequence the loop
was evacuated to 6 psia, and pressurized to 22 psia with the desired coolant. This purge process
was repeated 3 times, thus after three purge and fill processes the residual fraction of the original
gas in the loop (assumed to be 100% air) was reduced to 2%. Often the fill and purge process
was performed the day before the transient test and the whole process typically lasts 3-4 hours.
When the system was left filled over night, the loop volume was left pressurized above ambient
pressures so that gas leakage was always out of the loop. Because the loop contains about 20 ft3,
the pressure changes over night were low but measurable. Typical leak rates were measured to
be about 1-1.7scc/s. We believe that these leaks are through the numerous and large grafoil
closure rings located between the flanges of the ducting. The leak rates are larger than desired
but don’t appear to strongly affect the results of the test over the time period of the tests.
3.2.2 Startup Sequence

Figure 3.3 and Figure 3.4 show actual recorded data made during a test that was performed on
January 11, 2006. It will be used to illustrate roughly how all tests were performed. These
figures contain markers indicating key events in a run. These events consist of startup (spinning
the shaft and starting the turbomachinery), inventory control (pressure reductions or increases),
thermal power level changes (results in gas temperature increases), gas filling with a different
gas or addition of the same gas, shaft speed changes at constant turbine inlet temperature, and
shut down.
All tests were started by first “motoring” the turbo-machinery for a few minutes prior to starting
the heater. The startup of the turbomachinery easily seen as increased rpm at 10,000 s in the
illustration, see Figure 3.3 and Figure 3.4. Typically the rpm was first increased to 25,000 rpm
for a few minutes then increased to 40,000 – 50,000 rpm. In all cases the shaft speed was limited
to keep the motor power to less than 2.5 kW as this is near the upper capability of the Capstone
motor control circuitry.
21 6/1/2006
Once the turbomachinery begins to spin, the low pressure leg of the loop decreases and the high
pressure leg increases in pressure. Increases in shaft speed always result in reductions in the low
pressure leg and increases in the high pressure leg of the loop. During startup the compression
and expansion processes causes some minor changes in gas temperature which can easily be
observed in the test however they are not readily visible in the illustration due to the scale used in
the plots.
Once the turbo-compressor begins spinning and the mass flow rates are checked to see that they
are in the correct range then the heater power is turned on. This occurs at about 10,300 seconds
in the illustration, and results in an increase in gas temperature. Also observe that as the gas
heats the overall pressure in the system increases. Once heating starts and the gas temperature
appear correct then the controller is switched to automatic thermal control. In this mode the
controller uses a feedback loop to adjust the thermal power level to produce a setpoint
temperature for the turbine inlet temperature. Because of the thermal inertia of the heater and
other loop components it can take up 20 minutes or more to reach a desired set point
temperature. Typically the auto-control feature is used to keep the turbine inlet temperature at
the desired set point and then the shaft speed or gas pressure is changed to observe the new state
points of the loop. This has the effect of producing near steady state temperatures within about
twenty minutes, but the power level slowly fluctuates as thermal energy is transferred into the
heater walls and bulkhead.
3.2.3 Inventory Control

The inventory control tests were performed once the steady-state turbine inlet was achieved. In
the illustration this started at about 15,000 s into the run and lasted until almost 18,000 s. During
these inventory reductions the turbine inlet temperature (TIT) was kept at 650 K. The test was
performed by reducing the compressor inlet pressure in increments of 10 kPa while the shaft
speed was kept constant at 50,000 rpm. Note that reductions in compressor inlet pressure also
resulted in a reductions in the high pressure leg of the loop. The test consists of recording the
changes in measured alternator power, and compressor pressure ratio as a function of compressor
inlet pressure or fill gas inventory. This test was performed for three gases, N2, Ar, and N2-
30%He.
The current models assume that there is approximately 0.529 m3 or about 18.7 ft3 of volume in
the loop which when filled with 115 kPa of Nitrogen consists of about 0.705 kg of gas in the
loop. Typically this phase of the test reduces the system pressure by 40-50 kPa. This represents
up to 30 percent of the fill gas inventory or about 0.23 kg of gas.
3.2.4 Turbine Inlet Temperature Changes, (Transient and Steady

State Data)
Shortly after the inventory test phase some transient heating was performed. Here the feedback
controller was used to increase the TIT in two steps of 50 K. This data is viewed as transient
data and resulted in step increases in generated electrical power, hot leg gas temperatures and gas
pressures. The rate of change of these temperatures and pressures were controlled primarily by
the power level but also by the thermal inertia of the system.
22 6/1/2006
Text files are available that give the actual time history of the measure data. These data have
been filtered over a 30 second interval and the data in the file is reported every 15 seconds. The
data include the time, the raw gas flow rate (kg/s), the electrical power in percent, the shaft speed
(rpm), the inlet coolant water temperature, and the water flow rate (gallons per minute).
3.2.5 Fill Gas Change

In most operations the fill gas type and pressure were changed during the run. In the examples
shown in Figure 3.3 and Figure 3.4 this occurred at 22000 s. Initially in this example the gas was
filled with nitrogen at 120 kPa. At 22,000 s the compressor inlet pressure was 115 kPa, and an
additional 10 kPa of Argon gas was added to the system. This change resulted in not only a
change in pressure but also an increase in the molecular weight, and specific heat ratio, and
reductions in the gas conductivity. The data in Table 3-1 shows a list of these changes.
3.2.6 RPM Changes at Constant TIT (Static Power Operating Curve

Tests and Pressure Operating Lines or Flow Curves)
The static power operating curve portion of the test was made by changing the turbo-compressor
shaft speed while keeping the TIT constant at 750 K. In the example shown in Figure 3.3 and
Figure 3.4 this phase of testing began at 22,500s and ended at 25,500s. Again note that as the
rpm increases the low pressure leg values decrease while the high pressure leg values increase.
This is a consequence of the pressure ratio changes due to higher shaft speeds in a closed system.
During this portion of the run both generated electrical power and pressure ratio data were
recorded and plotted as a function of rpm or mass flow rate. Plots of the electrical power as a
function of shaft speed provide the static loop dependent measurement of the power operating
curve. Plots of the pressure ratio versus flow rate produce the operating line of the characteristic
flow curve for that specific gas type and TIT. The Steady-State operating pressure curves versus
mass flow rate are shown in Section 3.3, and the operating power generation curves are shown in
Section 3.4.
3.2.7 Transient effects of rpm level changes

Many of the operations include a transient measurement that consisted of a rapid shaft speed
reduction. In effect speed control is one method of controlling the electrical power generated.
Rapid power maneuvers are one example of this method of control. In the example operation
shown in a fast reduction in rpm occurred at 26,000s. The rpm was reduced from 75,000 rpm to
60,000 in a few seconds. The resulting power transient (which consists of a spike) is shown in
Figure 3.4. Note that in this example the heater power has already been turned off so in effect
this phase of the run is really part of the shutdown sequence. The raw data files capture this
transient at 1 second intervals and will be provided on the project server.
3.2.8 System Shutdown

The last operational sequence is shut down. In examples shown in Figure 3.3 and Figure 3.4 this
process began at about 26,000 seconds. The real time controller first turns the heater power off
(25,500s in this example) while the rpm level is kept constant. As the system cools the TIT
drops and the generated power decreases. When the motor power required to keep the shaft
speed at the set point value exceeds 2.5 kWe, then the rpm speed command is reduced first to
60,000 rpm and then in increments of 5,000 rpm. This results in near stepwise reductions in rpm
which always correspond with a resulting power spike. Again the transient data files can be used
23 6/1/2006
to model this data. In some runs the shaft speed reductions were manually controlled to keep the
alternator power level positive but near zero for as long as possible. These tests are often
referred to as decay heat removal tests as they show that it is possible to remove the sensible heat
from the reactor for over 1 hour while still producing positive and usable power.
Gas Coolant
Temps (K)
Heater Power (%)
100% N2 10 kPa Bleed

10 kPa Argon Fill
dP =10 kPa
Startup Inventory TIT Increase RPM Increase Shutdown

Reductions 650 K,700 K,
750K
Figure 3.3: Typical operational transient of the Sandia Brayton Loop. The top image
shows the recorded gas temperature data (degrees K) along with the heater power (shown
as the blue line in percent thermal power). Based on resistance measurements 100% power
is 62.5 kW of heater power. The lower set of curves shows the pressure data for all
pressure taps on the high and low pressure legs of the loop.
24 6/1/2006
Gas Coolant
Temps (K)
Heater Power (%)
100% N2
10 kPa Argon
Addition
RPM/5000
dP =10 kPa
5 Steps
Power (kW)

750K
Figure 3.4: Typical measured data with a blow up of the turbomachinery shaft speed and
the measured alternator power. This is the same data as shown in the previous figure
except that the lower plot is expanded to show the shaft speed and alternator power.
3.3 Steady State Flow Curve Validation Test Results

The steady-state flow characterization data is shown in Figure 3.5. This data was generated by
the sequence of test operations describe above in Section 3.2.6. This figure plots the measured
compressor and turbine pressure ratios as a function of mass flow rate for various gases and gas
mixtures. These curves represent the intersections of the compressor and turbine pressure ratio
as shown in Figure 3.1. In general these are curves are nearly straight lines with positive slope
and small but positive curvature. In this figure both the compressor and turbine pressure ratios
are plotted as a function of rpm. Frictional pressure drops and pressure drops due to form losses
in the components must be made up by the compressor, thus the compressor pressure ratio is
always larger than the turbine pressure ratio. At low flow rates the fractional pressure drop is on
the order of 1.5% while at the higher flow rates the fractional pressure drop is about 3%.
25 6/1/2006
Pressure Ratio (Turbine and Compressor) Versus Mass Flow Rate
for Various Gas Mixtures and Turbine Inlet Temperatures
N2, TIT700K, 06-01-19, Comp
3.5 N2, TIT700K, 06-01-19, Turb
N2-10Ar, TIT700K, 06-01-11, Comp
N2-10Ar, TIT700K, 06-01-11, Turb
Ar, TIT800K, 06-03-16, Comp
Ar, TIT800K, 06-03-16, Turb
Ar20He, TIT870K, 06-03-16,Comp
Ar20He, TIT870K, 06-03-16,Turb
N2-30He, TIT850K, 06-03-23,Comp
N2-30He, TIT850K, 06-03-23,Turb
N2-30He, TIT750K, 06-03-23,Comp
3
Pressure Ratio (Comp and Turb)
N2-30He, TIT750K, 06-03-23,Turb

N2-30He, TIT900K, 06-03-23, Comp
N2-30He, TIT900K, 06-03-23, Turb
N2, TIT870K, 05-09-13, Comp
N2, TIT870K, 05-09-13, Turb N2 (870K)
CO2, TIT700K, 06-05-25, Comp
CO2, TIT700K, 06-05-25, Turb
N2-30%He (900K)
2.5 N2-10%Ar (700K)
N2-30%He (850K) Ar-20%He (870K) CO2 (700K)
Ar (800K)
N2-30%He (750K)
1.5
N2 (700K)
N2 (870K)
1
0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45
Mass flow (kg/s)
Figure 3.5: Measured compressor and turbine pressure ratio as function of mass flow rate.
Mass flow rate is in kg/s of fluid being tests.
The pressure ratio operating curve tests were performed for a variety of gases. Pure gases of N2,
Argon and CO2 were used, as were mixed gases. Table 3-2 lists the pure gases used and their
gas properties. The gas mixtures that were used include 90%N2-10%Ar, 90%Ar-10%He,
80%Ar-20%He, and 70%N2 -30%He. Table 3-3 shows the gas mixtures and gas properties for
these gases.
Table 3-2: List of pure gases and gas properties used in the Sandia Brayton loop. Tests of
pure N2 and CO2 have been completed. Pure He has not been performed and probably
will not be because of its low molecular weight.
SNL CBC Testing For Gen IV Pure Gases
1/11/2006
Test Date 10/17/2006 3/16/2006 tbd
Gas Type Description N2 Ar CO2 He
Cp J/kg*K 1026 518 844 5378
k(300K) mW/m*K 26 18 16 154
k(1000K) mW/m*K 60 42 54 336
Ro (J/kg*K) 297 208 188.9 2079
MW (gm/mole) 28 39.9 44.01 4
Gamma 1.407 1.66 1.316 1.66
26 6/1/2006
Table 3-3: List of gas mixes and their gas properties tested in the Sandia Brayton Loop.
SNL CBC Testing For Gen IV Gas Mixtures
Test Date 1/11/2006 3/16/2005 3/16/2005 3/23/2006
Gas Type Description 90N2-10Ar 90Ar-10He 80Ar-20He 70N2-30He
Cp J/kg*K 941.4 571 634 1221
k(300K) mW/m*K 26 24 33.1 46
k(1000K) mW/m*K 59 56 72 105
Ro (J/kg*K) 284 229 254 399
MW (gm/mole) 29 36.4 32.7 21
Gamma 1.433 1.66 1.66 1.486
The general trend shown in the data shown in Figure 3.5 is that gases with lower molecular
weights are located more to the left side of the plot while those with the larger molecular weights
are located more to the right hand side of the plot. This is to be expected because higher
molecular weight gases have higher densities and lower heat capacities. Therefore, for similar
shaft speeds (similar volumetric flow rates) more mass is being pumped around the loop for the
higher density gases which causes the plots of the pressure ratio operating curves to move to the
right in the plot for higher molecular weights. Other properties such as ratio of Cp/Cv and
perhaps gas conductivity may be important parameters as well. To help display this sensitivity to
the gas properties we have also plotted (see Figure 3.6) the same pressure ratio data as a function
of dimensionless flow. Dimensionless flow is defined as:
R
w Tin ugc
MW
w` = 2
.
Din pin γ
Where w is the mass flow rate (kg/s), Rugc is the universal gas constant, Tin is the inlet
compressor gas temperature, Din is the inlet wheel diameter, pin is the inlet gas pressure, and γ is
the ratio of Cp/Cv. In Figure 3.6 and in Figure 3.7 this definition for dimensionless flow was
used to make the plot, but the inlet diameter was assumed to be 1 because the turbine and
compressor wheel sizes aren’t changing. Note that the data tends to line up more on a single line
than in Figure 3.5. Even though the data is better behaved using the dimensionless plot form, the
curves for each gas type are still far enough apart to indicate that these are truly different
pressure operating lines. This is most clearly seen in Figure 3.7 where the compressor pressure
ratio working line is included in the plot. Most likely, this means that a single curve or family of
curves cannot be used to represent the characteristic curves for all gases.
27 6/1/2006
Sandia Brayton Loop Pressure Ratio Operating Line for Various Gases and Gas Mixtures
3.5
N2-700K
N2-9.4Ar-700K
Ar-800K
Ar-20He-870K
3 N2-30%He-750K N2
N2-30%He-900K
N2-30%He-850K 870K
Compressor Pressure Ratio
N2-870K
N2-30%He
2.5 900K
N2-9.4%Ar
N2-30%He
850K Argon-800K
2
Ar-20%He 870K
N2-30%He
750K
1.5
N2-700K
1
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
Dimensionless Flow (Comp)
Figure 3.6: Operating compressor pressure ratio lines plotted as a function of

dimensionless flow.
28 6/1/2006
Sandia Brayton Loop Pressure Ratio Operating Line for Various Gases and Gas Mixtures
3.5
N2-700K
N2-9.4Ar-700K
Ar-800K
Ar-20He-870K
3 N2-30%He-750K N2
N2-30%He-900K 870K
N2-30%He-850K
Compressor Pressure Ratio
N2-870K N2-30%He
900
CO2-TIT700K
2.5
N2-9.4%Ar
CO2 700K
N2-30%He
850K Argon-800K
N2-30%He
750 Ar-20%He 870K
1.5
N2-700K
1
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
Compressor Dimensionless Flow ( mdot*sqrt(T1 * Ro * Cp/Cv)/( P1 * Cp/Cv ) )
Figure 3.7: Operating compressor pressure ratio lines plotted as a function of

dimensionless flow with data for CO2 included and on an expanded scale.
3.4 Static Closed Loop Test

The static Closed Brayton Cycle power operation curve is shown in Figure 3.6. This data was
generated by the sequence of rpm shaft speed changes described above in Section 3.2.6. This
figure plots the measured alternator power as a function of shaft speed. Each curve represents
the alternator power for a fixed turbine inlet temperature and for a fixed gas type. At Sandia we
call these curves the power operating curves. In general the curves show an increase in
generated power as the shaft speed increases. However the curves always exhibit a maximum
and begin to decrease above a certain rpm. Our simple lumped parameter model for these
systems predicts this type of behavior.
Earlier tests at Sandia using the Brayton loop were used to generate the family power operating
curves. This data is shown in Figure 3.2. Note that at low TIT temperatures the slope of the
power operating curve is always negative, but at high TIT the curves start off with a positive
slope, reach a maximum and then begin to decrease. This family of operating power curves for
specific gas is very useful. It can be used to illustrate some of the non-linear behavior of the
closed Brayton loop because the steady state solution has two solutions for each generator power
level. One of these solutions is at low rpm and the other at higher rpm. The curves can also be
used to predict the break-even or self-sustaining operating conditions of the loop at low rpm and
low turbine inlet temperatures. If the curves are extrapolated to zero on the left hand side of the
plot, the rpm crossing value at zero power is the self-sustaining shaft speed. This means that the
29 6/1/2006
power generated in the turbine just equals the power used by the compressor (plus other losses)
for fixed turbine inlet temperature and for each gas type.
The zero crossing at the highest shaft speeds also provides valuable data. The power operating
curves at zero alternator power at the higher rpm regions of the plot provide the “loss of load”
shaft speed. This is approximately the shaft speed that would be reached if the load were
suddenly lost. Whether the turbo-alternator-compressor stays together at this speed depends on
the design of the turbine, compressor, and alternator. Of course one should also be very careful
in using extrapolated values for this point as we have observed more complex behavior at shaft
speeds that are 50-100% greater than the designed shaft speed. At very high shaft speeds our
models indicate a reverse temperature gradient in the recuperator. This temperature reversal
occurs because the high speed causes a high pressure ratio in both the turbine and compressor,
which also means a high temperature ratio. In a reactor driven system the turbine inlet
temperature stays nearly constant for fixed reactivity insertion. Thus at high shaft speeds we find
that the exit temperature of the turbine is below the exit temperature of the compressor. This
results in an inverted temperature gradient within the recuperator. To date, this phenomenon has
only been observed in the models and not in the hardware because we can’t spin the turbo-
compressor fast enough in the hardware.
Other modeling and data analysis has shown that the closed Brayton system is “dynamically
stable” on the negative slope portion of the family of operating power curves and “dynamically
unstable” for the positive sloped portion of the operating power curve. The Sandia Brayton loop
can be operated at any location because the Capstone controller is continually adjusting the load
to keep the power at the desired set point. Thus, it uses a dynamic feedback system to achieve
stability on the positive sloped portion of the curve.
30 6/1/2006
Alternator Power versus RPM
N2, TIT700K,06-01-19
N2-10%Ar, TIT700K, 060111
9000
Ar, TIT800K, 06-03-16
Ar-20He, TIT870K, 06-03-16 N2-30He (900K)
8000 N2-30He,TIT750K, 06-03-23 N2 (870K)
N2-30He, TIT900K, 06-03-23
N2-30He, TIT850K, 06-03-23
7000
N2, TIT870K, 05-09-13
CO2, TIT700K, 06-05-25 N2-30He (850K)
Alternator Power (W)
6000
N2 (870K)
5000
CO2 (700K)
4000
Ar-20%He (870K)
3000
N2-10%Ar (700K)
2000
N2-30He (750K)
1000 N2 (700K)
100%Ar (800K)
0
40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Shaft Speed krpm
Figure 3.8: Power operating curve for various gases and for fixed turbine inlet
temperatures plotted as a function of shaft speed.
A larger scale plot of the measured power operating curve is shown in Figure 3.9. This data was
taken at TIT and shaft speeds that produced lower electrical power levels. These limitations
were used in part to not over stress the CBC unit for these first tests, and also to provide better
data near lower power, lower rpm and lower temperature regions of operation.
31 6/1/2006
Alternator Power versus RPM
3500
Ar-20%He (870K)
3000
2500
N2-10%Ar (700K)
2000 N2-30He (750K)
1500
1000 N2, TIT700K,06-01-19

N2 (700K)
N2-10%Ar, TIT700K, 060111
Ar, TIT800K, 06-03-16

500
Ar-20He, TIT870K, 06-03-16
100%Ar (800K)
N2-30He,TIT750K, 06-03-23
0
40 50 60 70 80 90
Shaft Speed krpm
Figure 3.9: Larger scale plot of the operating power curve for various gases and for fixed
turbine inlet temperatures.
3.5 Steady State Inventory Control Test Data

Control of reactor systems coupled to closed Brayton cycle systems is an issue for high
temperature helium Brayton systems and for super-critical CO2 systems. For simple recuperated
Brayton systems major control approaches include turbine inlet temperature control, rpm or load
control, inventory control, bypass control, and throttle control. Supercritical Brayton systems
can use all of these approaches in addition to compressor inlet temperature control, and split flow
control approaches as well. For large power plants the turbine and alternator will be required to
rotate at 3600 rpm, which means that for conventional system designs the compressor (or pump)
will also rotate at this constant speed. Because of the constant speed compressor the flow
through the reactor or the primary heat exchanger will also be fixed. Under these conditions the
option of using rpm/load control is not available. Because the flow rate is essentially fixed due
to the fixed shaft speed, other mechanisms are needed to provide ways of shifting power, or
adjusting to transients that may be either rapid or slow. Changes in reactor core temperature can
be used to change the power level, but in general this method of control is undesirable because of
the large thermal mass of the core and for materials and thermal cycling reasons as well.
32 6/1/2006
Inventory control (changes in the average pressure or fluid density within Brayton cycle loop) is
one way to change the mass flow rate through the Brayton loop even when the compressor speed
is fixed. This approach has the advantage that system efficiency is not strongly affected but for
large systems it may be slow as additional pumps are required to increase or lower the working
fluid pressure (inventory). Section 3.2.3 described the method that we used to perform the
inventory control tests, where the turbine inlet temperature and shaft speed were kept constant
and the compressor inlet pressure was reduced in 10 kPa increments. The results of the tests are
illustrated in Figure 3.10. This plot compares the alternator power (as reported by the Capstone
controller) as a function of compressor inlet pressure for a fixed TIT and for three gases. Based
on current understanding of loop operation, it is clear that this reported value is not just the pure
alternator power. One explanation is that it is the power output after the rectification and after
the buck boost voltage regulation. As such, there are electronic losses included in this data which
may be a function of power or rpm. Current loss models are not sophisticated enough to account
for these effects at this time.
The three gases that were used included N2, Ar, and 70%N2 – 30%He (mole fraction). The TIT
was kept at 650 K for the nitrogen and helium nitrogen mixture. For argon the TIT had to be
increased to 700 K to get some of the data to fall in the positive net power production level.
Measured Alternator Power vesus Compressor Inlet Pressure
NG-1 Tests , 50,000 rpm, Nitrogen, Argon, and Nitrogen 30%He
300
Nitrogen,
Slope = 8.6 W/kPa
200
100
0
100 110 120 130 140 150
-100
70% Nitrogen / 30%He Argon
Slope = 7.4 W/kPa Slope = 11.2 W/kPa
-200 Nitrogen
Argon
70%N2 30%He
-300
Compressor Inlet Pressure (kPa)
Figure 3.10: Measured results of inventory control tests showing the alternator power as a
function of fill gas pressure. These data were taken at state points near zero net power
generation as the power levels are small (a few hundred watts) compared to maximum
power levels attainable of 10-30 kWe.
First it is observed that the generated electrical power is proportional to compressor inlet
pressure. This is what would be expected. Also, pure nitrogen produces the highest power
values of the three gases. This is probably because the Capstone turbine and compressor were
33 6/1/2006
designed to operate with air which is 80% nitrogen and has similar gas properties as air. This is
an indication that for the turbine and compressor the head coefficient (ratio of adiabatic head to
tip velocity squared) or the velocity ratio are closer to their optimum values and thus result in the
highest efficiencies. These curves are all similar and in the range of 10 W/kPa, but slight
differences do exist. It is expected that at higher power levels (nearer to 10 kWe) the magnitude
of the inventory slope value (W/kPa) would be proportional to power. It is suggested that some
of these tests be repeated at higher power levels.
The inventory power coefficient = electrical power per kPa coefficient (slope of the curve) was
also plotted as function of molecular weight in Figure 3.11. This curve shows a trend that
increases in magnitude in proportion to molecular weight, but further data is required to confirm
this apparent effect.
Inventory Gas Type

Sensitivity
Power/kPa versus Molecular Weight
12
11 Ar, at 700 K
Watts/kPa
10
9
N2, at 650 K
8
7 70N2-30H3, at 650 K
6
20 30 40 50
Molecular Weight
Figure 3.11: Plot of inventory coefficient (electrical power per kPa) when measured over
the range of -250 - + 250 We and plotted as a function of molecular weight. Note that the
Argon data is at 700 K not at 650 K.
3.6 Transient Test Data

Transient data for three CBC loop operations are provided. Figure 3.12 through Figure 3.17
illustrates the recorded data in a graphical form. These files are contained on the file server. In
addition, filtered and sample data are also provided. These files are much shorter and used the
complete data set but are
filtered using a time average 30 second window. The data is recorded in the file every 15
seconds. The file names for the filtered data are also provided in the table. The filtered data only
contains the input data required to run a dynamic simulation. The data is in the comma separated
file format. The data is in columns representing time, electric power (%), rpm (rev/s) mass flow
34 6/1/2006
rate of gas (kg/s), water inlet temperature. Note that the data control and acquisition system are
set to work with nitrogen. Because of this, the mass conversion coefficient for the gas mass flow
rate is incorrect. However, even though gas mass flow rate is provided it is not needed by the
modeling effort because it is calculated by the characteristic flow curves knowing the rpm and
the inlet gas temperatures. Note, the flow must be corrected by the ratio of the MW of the
actual gas used divided by the MW of Nitrogen to obtain a real value for the mass flow
rate. The flow rate is probably only good to 5-10%.
The transient data for all channels is provided on the Next Generation file server and as an
accompanying CD. The CD also contains a very large excel file that has all the measured data
taken for all channels at approximately one second intervals. These data sets consist of raw data
and have their own sheet names that use the date of the test as the sheet name. All data are in
MKS (meters, kilograms, seconds and degress Kelvin) units except for water flow which is in
gallons per minute, and power which is in percent of full power. Full power is 62.5 kW.
The transient data files are provided to allow modeling of an entire transient if desired. Portions
of the data can also be used to perform dynamic analysis on specific parameters. Significant
portions to model include startup, shutdown and rapid changes in rpm.
Table 3-4: File names containing the complete Sandia Brayton loop operations.
Complete Data Set File name Filtered Data Set File Gas Mixtures
Name
CBC_060111_1320.csv F_CBC_060111_1320.csv Nitrogen , Nitrogen + 9.4%Ar
CBC_060316_0858.csv F_CBC_060316_0858.csv Argon, Argon+20%He
CBC_060111_1320.csv F_CBC_060111_1320.csv Nitrogen – 30% Helium
35 6/1/2006
Gas Coolant
Temps (K)
Heater Power (%)
100% N2 10 kPa Bleed

10 kPa Argon Fill
dP =10 kPa

750K
Figure 3.12: Screen images of measured temperature and pressure data for N2 and N2-
10%Ar. Test date was 06-01-11.
Gas Coolant
Temps (K)
Heater Power (%)
100% N2
10 kPa Argon
Addition
RPM/5000
dP =10 kPa
5 Steps
Power (kW)

750K
Figure 3.13: Screen images of measured temperature and rpm and alternator power data
for N2 and N2-10%Ar. Test date was 06-01-11.
36 6/1/2006
100 % Ar Fill
100 % Ar Fill Ar-20He Fill
10 kPa He Fill Steps
Startup Inventory RPM Variations RPM Variations Shutdown

Reductions
Figure 3.14: Screen images of measured temperature and pressure data forArgon and
Argon 10%He. Test date was 06-03-16.
10 kPa He Fill Steps
Startup Inventory RPM Variations RPM Variations Shutdown

Reductions
for Argon and Ar-20%He. Test date was 06-03-16.
37 6/1/2006
Startup Inventory RPM Increase RPM Increase Shutdown
Reductions
Figure 3.16: Screen images of measured temperature and pressure data for N2-30%He
Test date was 06-03-23.
RPM IncreaseS Shutdown

RPM Increase
Inventory
Startup Reductions
for N2-30%He. Test date was 06-03-23.
38 6/1/2006
4 Summary Description of Geometry, Dimensions and
Test Conditions
This section of the report collects all the data provided in the data result plots described in the
previous section. This section also provides other information such as the turbine inlet
temperature (TIT), the gas type that was used for each test, and the compressor inlet temperature.
4.1 Geometry and Test Conditions for Steady State Flow Data
This section of the report presents the conditions of the tests and the recorded data used to make
the plots described in sections 3.3 and 3.4. Additional test conditions are provided in these tables
for turbine and compressor inlet temperature. The method of performing these tests was
described in sections 3.1.1 and 3.1.2. The data presented here was taken from complete transient
data, finding the sequence of time where these measurements were made and then pulling the
data out and putting it in to excel for plotting. In some cases the data was pulled off of plots, in
others it was obtained from the raw data files. There is always a possibility that some of the data
was incorrectly recorded. Typical uncertainty values for temperature are 1 K, for pressure they
are 1 kPa, for mass flow rate the uncertainty is estimated to be about .01 kg/s, for rpm the
uncertainty is 30-50 rpm, and for alternator power (P.e) the uncertainty is about 30-50 W.
Table 4-1: Measured date for pure nitrogen at TIT=700 K, test date of 06-01-19.
60119
N2 TIT CIT MW R.o Cp/Cv
TIT=700K 700 290 28.01 284 1.407
krpm raw mdot mdot p_CIT P_COT p_TIT p_TOT r.c r.t P.e P.htr
55 0.17 127 204 199 130 1.606299 1.530769 1180 41.5
60 0.19 122.5 213 207.5 126 1.738776 1.646825 1311 45.5
65 0.205 117.5 222.5 216.5 121 1.893617 1.789256 1238 49
70 0.22 112.5 229 225.5 117 2.035556 1.92735 944 52.6
Table 4-2: Measured date for pure nitrogen, 9.4% argon at TIT=700 K, test date of 06-01-
11.
60111
N2-9.4%Ar TIT CIT MW R.o Cp/Cv
TIT=700K 700 290 29 297 1.433
50 0.14 0.147 116.5 175 170.6 118.4 1.502146 1.440878 1346 35.2
55 0.155 0.16275 112 183 177.5 115 1.633929 1.543478 1727 39.1
60 0.17 0.1785 108 191 185 112 1.768519 1.651786 2053 41.8
65 0.18 0.189 104 199 194 108 1.913462 1.796296 2259 44.6
70 0.19 0.1995 100 208 202 103.5 2.08 1.951691 2213 49.4
75 0.2 0.21 96 217 211 100 2.260417 2.11 1799 52.6
39 6/1/2006
Table 4-3: Measured date for pure argon at TIT=800 K, test date of 06-03-16.
60316
Ar (100%) TIT CIT MW R.o Cp/Cv
TIT=800K 800 290 39.9 208 1.66
40 0.12 0.170982 113.3 161.7 156.7 115.8 1.427184 1.353195 830 24
45 0.135 0.192355 110 170 165.3 112.5 1.545455 1.469333 1100 28
50 0.15 0.213727 106.5 178.8 174 109.2 1.678873 1.593407 1300 33
50 0.15 0.213727 105.8 178 173.2 105.8 1.68242 1.637051 1280 30
55 0.162 0.230825 102.2 188 182 105 1.83953 1.733333 1280 36.2
60 0.175 0.249348 98 196.5 190.8 101.3 2.005102 1.883514 950 38
65 0.19 0.270721 93.5 206 200 97.4 2.203209 2.053388 260 40.5
Table 4-4: Measured date for pure argon/ 20% helium at TIT=870 K, test date of 06-03-16.
60316
Ar 20%He TIT CIT MW R.o Cp/Cv
TIT=870K 870 290 32.7 254 1.66
45 0.131 0.153028 121 178 174 123.8 1.471074 1.405493 1749 30.14
50 0.147 0.171719 117.8 186.5 181.7 120.4 1.583192 1.509136 2190 33.7
55 0.16 0.186905 113.9 196 190 117 1.720808 1.623932 2705 38.9
60 0.175 0.204427 109.3 205.5 199.5 113 1.880146 1.765487 3030 41.7
65 0.19 0.221949 105 214.8 208.3 109 2.045714 1.911009 3096 43.9
70 0.2 0.233631 100.6 224.5 217.5 104.8 2.23161 2.075382 2703 50.7
Table 4-5: Measured date for pure nitrogen / 30% Helium at TIT=750 K, test date of 06-
03-23.
60323
N2-30%He TIT CIT MW R.o Cp/Cv
TIT=750K 750 290 21 399 1.486
50 0.103 0.077 111.3 151.8 148 113.2 1.363881 1.30742 740 33.6
55 0.12 0.089 109 157.3 153 111.2 1.443119 1.375899 1060 34.7
60 0.13 0.097 106.2 163 158.5 108.8 1.53484 1.456801 1350 37.2
65 0.14 0.104 103.3 169 164.3 106 1.636012 1.55 1650 39.6
70 0.15 0.111 100.2 175.7 170.5 103 1.753493 1.65534 1880 42.2
75 0.16 0.119 97 182.2 176.5 100 1.878351 1.765 1980 44.8
80 0.17 0.126 93.7 189 183 97.3 2.017076 1.880781 1920 48
85 0.18 0.134 90.2 195.5 189.4 94 2.167406 2.014894 1530 51.3
Table 4-6: Measured date for nitrogen / 30% Helium at TIT=900 K, test date of 06-03-23.
60323
TIT=900K 900 290 21 399 1.486
90 0.2 0.149 94.5 223.9 216.2 99.2 2.369312 2.179435 7850 78
94 0.207 0.154 91.4 230 223 97 2.516411 2.298969 7940 80.5
40 6/1/2006
Table 4-7: Measured date for nitrogen / 30% Helium at TIT=850 K, test date of 06-03-23.
60323
TIT=850K 850 290 21 399 1.486
75 0.169 0.126 102.8 194.2 188.2 106.1 1.889105 1.773798 4940 62
76 0.171 0.127 102.0 195.8 189.5 105.5 1.919608 1.796209 5060 63
77 0.173 0.128 101.2 197 191.2 105 1.94664 1.820952 5150 63
78 0.175 0.130 100.8 198.7 192.7 104.2 1.97123 1.849328 5270 64
79 0.177 0.131 99.8 200.2 194.1 103.5 2.006012 1.875362 5370 64
80 0.179 0.133 99.1 201.8 195.3 103 2.036327 1.896117 5450 65
81 0.181 0.134 98.5 203.3 197 102.1 2.063959 1.929481 5510 66
82 0.183 0.136 97.5 204.9 198.1 101.7 2.101538 1.947886 5550 66
83 0.184 0.137 97 206.2 200 101 2.125773 1.980198 5630 67
84 0.186 0.138 96.1 207.8 201.2 100.2 2.162331 2.007984 5610 67
85 0.188 0.140 95.3 209 202.6 99.5 2.193075 2.036181 5760 68
87 0.192 0.143 94 212.3 205.7 98.3 2.258511 2.092574 5690 69
89 0.196 0.146 92.5 215.3 208.5 96.8 2.327568 2.153926 5710 90
90 0.198 0.147 91.6 217 210.2 96.1 2.368996 2.187305 5690 83
Table 4-8: Measured date for pure nitrogen at TIT=870 K, test date of 05-09-13.
50913
N2 TIT CIT MW R.o Cp/Cv
TIT=870K 750 290 28.01 399 1.486
25 0.05 0.05 129 145.5 143 131 1.127907 1.091603 500 27
30 0.065 0.065 127.5 150.5 148 130 1.180392 1.138462 800 33
40 0.1 0.1 124 163 159.3 126 1.314516 1.264286 1300 43
50 0.13 0.13 118.7 178 174 121.3 1.499579 1.43446 2750 53
60 0.158 0.158 112 196 190.3 115 1.75 1.654783 4520 63
70 0.185 0.185 104 215 209 108 2.067308 1.935185 6300 70
75 0.202 0.202 100 225.5 218.7 104.2 2.255 2.098848 7050 77
80 0.215 0.215 96 236 229 101 2.458333 2.267327 7700 83
85 0.225 0.225 92 246.3 239 97.6 2.677174 2.44877 7700 90
90 0.238 0.238 88 257 249 94 2.920455 2.648936 7100 100
Table 4-9: Measured data for pure CO2 at TIT=700 K, test date of 06-05-25.
60525
CO2 TIT CIT MW R.o Cp/Cv
TIT=700K 750 300 44.01 188.9 1.316
50 0.214 0.336194 131.7 241.5 235.9 135.1 1.833713 1.746114 2910 62.2
55 0.237 0.372327 124.5 254.2 247.7 128.3 2.041767 1.930631 3250 63.7
60 0.261 0.410031 117.2 266.9 260.2 121.8 2.277304 2.136289 3165 67
65 0.273 0.428883 109.7 279.7 272.6 115 2.549681 2.370435 2645 71
4.2 Test Conditions for Steady State Inventory Control Data

The test procedures for collecting the inventory control data were described in section 3.1.4 and
the results of the data were collected and plotted in section 3.5. The actual recorded data and
other information is provided in Table 4-10.
41 6/1/2006
Table 4-10: Measured data for the inventory control tests.
TIT = 650 K TIT = 650 K TIT=700K TIT=700K TIT=650 K TIT=650 K
N2 N2 Argon Argon N2_30He N2_30He
CIP (kPa) Alt Pwr CIP (kPa) Alt Pwr CIP (kPa) Alt Pwr
140 270 142 200 147 205
130 170 132 40 137 110
120 80 121 -65 127 20
110 -5 111 -175 117 -30
100 -75 101 -270 105 -110
4.3 Geometry and Test Conditions for all Tests

4.3.1 Detailed Description of the Capstone C30 Radial Turbine and
Compressors
This section of the report presents a detailed description and photos of the Capstone C-30
compressor and turbine. This description is necessary because it provides the wheel sizing and
dimensions needed to generate the characteristic flow curves for the turbine and compressor.
The data is also needed for dynamic modeling. In addition, this design information also provides
short descriptions of the technology used in the turbo-machinery such as gas foil bearings and
other information regarding flow paths, thrust bearing load balancing and thermal control of the
bearings. Most of this data is collected in tables and presented in hopefully a very usable form.
4.3.1.1 Capstone C-30 Compressor and Turbine

A photo of the complete compressor and turbine for the Capstone C-30 (30 kWe) wheel set,
including gas bearings, is shown in Figure 4.1 (Photos courtesy of NASA Glenn Research
Center). The entire wheel set for this 30 kWe system is less than 6 inches long and the wheel
diameters are around 4 inches. The reader should note that the dimensions for a 132 kWe turbo-
compressor set that is designed for He/Xe at 2 MPa are about the same. The small dimensions of
the turbine and compressor and the high flow velocities through the turbine and compressor
(about 70% the speed of sound) mean that the gas flow can achieve equilibrium conditions very
rapidly (on the order of 0.3 – 0.4 ms). Thus pressure changes caused by speed changes or
temperature or pressure changes will result in new equilibrium flow rates within about 1 ms or
faster. A quasi-steady state approach to estimating the pressure changes and flow rates through
the rotating machinery, such as used in the mean-line flow analysis methods is therefore
justified. Because the flow and pressures reach their equilibrium flow conditions so rapidly
(within the turbo-compressor wheel set), the time rate of change in flow through the system will
be governed mainly by the rate of change of rpm which is in turn controlled by the moment of
inertia of the shaft, wheels, and alternator as well as by the misbalance in the torque/power in the
turbine, alternator, and compressor. The inertia due to the mass of gas within the entire ducting
network is currently ignored in the models. By way of comparison, we estimate the mass of the
rotating turbomachinery components including alternator to be approximately 20-30 kg, while
the mass of the coolant in the loop is only about 5 kg. In fact, one way to account for the mass of
the coolant is to add its inertia to the rotating components.
42 6/1/2006
Radial Compressor and Turbine
(Capstone C -30, Courtesy of NASA Glenn)
Colors
Indicate
Temperature
Compressor Turbine
Thrust Gas Journal Wheels are arranged so

Gas forces are nearly balanced
Bearing
Bearing
Figure 4.1: Capstone C-30 compressor and turbine wheels include the gas thrust and
journal bearings. The compressor is on the left side and is relatively cool, (green colors)
and the turbine is on the right (red colors for the housing and bearings,courtesy of NASA).
Figure 4.1 also shows the gas journal bearing and the gas thrust bearing of the turbo-compressor.
The face side of the compressor and turbine are shown in Figure 4.2, and Figure 4.3 shows the
compressor outlet diffuser and the turbine inlet nozzle. The bearings and turbo-compressor
wheels are arranged so that the pressure difference across the face of the compressor wheel is
balanced by the pressure difference across the turbine wheel. Also note that the bearings and
shaft materials are cooler closer to the compressor than on the turbine side. Gas flow in the
bearings is from the compressor side to the turbine side (from cold to hot) because the turbine
inlet pressure is less than the compressor exit pressure.
The permanent magnet alternator shaft (not shown) is connected to the compressor and turbine
shaft via a small rod or pencil-like shaft. The compressor inlet gas is the coldest gas in the entire
CBC loop thus it is used to cool the alternator. The gas flows from the left side of Figure 4.1
into the compressor inlet and then is flung radially outward where it goes to the recuperator and
then ultimately to the reactor. The hot gas from the reactor/heater enters in a narrow annulus in
the right side of Figure 4.1, through the nozzle and then radially inward where it impacts and
expands against the turbine blades and then flows axially out of the turbine face.
43 6/1/2006
Outlet Inlet
Figure 4.2: Face or front views of the Capstone C-30 compressor (left) and turbine (right).
Note that the compressor wheel blades are back swept while the turbine inlet blades are
not. Also note that the turbine base is scalloped, this is likely done to help accommodate the
gas flow from the inlet nozzle and presumably to help balance the thrust loads.
Based on these images and on others made during fabrication by Barber-Nichols Inc.
(manufacturer of the Sandia Brayton Loop), we have been able to estimate most of the
dimensions required to determine the characteristic flow curves. Table 4-11 and Table 4-12
summarize the approximate dimensions for the Capstone C-30 turbine and compressor.
Figure 4.3: Compressor wheel and exit diffuser (left) and turbine inlet nozzle (right).
44 6/1/2006
Table 4-11: Estimate of Capstone C-30 Turbine Dimensions
Capstone C-30 Turbine Dimensions (approximate)
Description Variable Name Value
Tip Radius rtip 54.61 mm
Hub Radius rh1 11.73mm
Shroud Radius rs1 37.82 mm
Blade Height b2 7 mm
Blade Exit Angle β2b -55 degrees
Blade Thickness tb 0.7 mm
Number of Blades Zr 18/9 (split + full / full)
Design rpm Nrpm 96,000 rpm
Design Pressure Ratio po2/po1 rc 3.7
Table 4-12: Estimate of Capstone C-30 Compressor Dimensions

Capstone C-30 Compressor Dimensions (approximate)
Description Variable Name Value
Tip Radius rtip 50.81 mm
Hub Radius rh1 12.83 mm
Shroud Radius rs1 27.95 mm
Blade Height b2 3.6 mm
Blade Exit Angle β2b -45 degrees
Blade Thickness tb 1.8 mm
Number of Blades Zr 18/9 (split + full / full)
Design rpm Nrpm 96,300 rpm
Design Pressure Ratio po2/po1 rc 3.7
4.3.2 Summary Description of the Sandia Brayton Loop Geometry

and Dimensions
This section of the report provides a summary description of the Brayton loop and provides
lengths, flow diameters, diameters, volumes, wall thickness and other parameters that are
required to develop a complete dynamic model for the loop. A more complete description of the
loop is provided in the Sandia final LDRD report (Wright, 2006), which is provided on the CD.
Also the initialization file used by the Sandia model is also included on the CD. This input file
provides all the data used by Sandia for its modeling effort.
4.3.2.1 Description of ducting and piping

The dimensions and properties of the ducting and piping are provided in Table 4-13, Table 4-14,
and in Table 4-15. The duct materials from the cold exit from the recuperator through the
compressor inlet were all made of carbon steel. All other ducts were 304 or 316 stainless steel.
45 6/1/2006
Table 4-13: Volumes of the ducting and piping components in the Sandia Brayton loop.
Inner
Component: Pipes & Ducts Inner Diam Diam Length Vol
(in) (m) (m) (m3)
Low-Pressure Leg
Turbine Housing 17.760 0.451 0.480 0.077
Recup-to-Gas-Cooler Small
Pipe 4.760 0.121 0.130 0.001
Gas-Cooler Inlet First Elbow 6.352 0.161 0.380 0.008
Gas-Cooler Inlet Line 6.352 0.161 3.250 0.066
Gas-Cooler Inlet Second
Elbow 6.352 0.161 0.380 0.008
Cooler Inlet Bellows 6.625 0.168 0.410 0.009
Gas-Cooler Inlet Elbow 6.352 0.161 0.740 0.015
Gas Cooler Tubes 0.527 0.013 189.0 0.027
Compressor Inlet Elbow 7.9810 0.203 0.5100 0.016
Compressor Inlet Pipe 7.9810 0.203 0.2000 0.006
Filter Housing 20.000 0.508 0.470 0.095
Generator Housing 13.500 0.343 0.200 0.018
High-Pressure Leg
Recup-to-Heater Small Pipes 2.635 0.067 2.500 0.009
Recup-to-Heater Manifold 5.761 0.146 1.120 0.019
Heater Inlet Large Pipe 6.060 0.154 1.500 0.028
Heater Inlet First Elbow 6.060 0.154 0.380 0.007
Heater Inlet Bellows 6.625 0.168 0.230 0.005
Heater Inlet Second Elbow 6.060 0.154 0.300 0.006
Gas Heater Inlet Pipe 6.352 0.161 0.180 0.004
Gas Heater Shell 11.380 0.289 2.300 0.151
Gas Heater Element Tubes 0.430 0.011 -124.2 -0.012
Turbine Inlet Pipes 1.402 0.036 4.860 0.005
Turbine Inlet Elbows 1.402 0.036 0.120 0.000
Table 4-14: Total volume gas loop.

Low-Pressure Leg Total Vol (m3) 0.348
Low-Pressure Leg Pressure
(MPag) 0.206
Low-Pressure Leg Energy (MJ) 0.036
High-Pressure Leg Total Vol (m3) 0.221
High-Pressure Leg Pressure
(MPag) 0.413
High-Pressure Leg Energy (MJ) 0.046
Total loop volume (m3) 0.569
46 6/1/2006
Table 4-15: Duct and component volumes, mass, length, and hydraulic diameter.
Duct or Component ID Volume Length Hydraulic Mass
(liter) (m) Diameter (kg)
(m)
V11 Compressor Inlet Duct 127 liter 0.662 m ..4048 m 60.748
V22 Compressor Outlet Duct 3 liter 0.10 m 0.4 m 0.252
V23 High Pressure leg of 20 liter 0.25 m rcp 250
Recuperator
V33 Heater Inlet Duct 77 liter 4,239 m 0.307 m 121.78
V34 Reactor Coolant Volume or 139 liter 2.235 m rx ---
Length
V44 Heater Outlet Duct Volume 5 liter 1.067 ..0696 m 9.6769
V55 Turbine Outlet Duct 3 liter 0.1 m .4 m 0.25196
V56 Low Pressure leg of 20 liter 0.25 m rcp 250
Recuperator
V66 Gas Chiller Inlet Duct 108 liter 5.004 m 0.3226 m 70.425
V61 Gas Chiller 27 liter 2.5 m gcx 114
4.3.2.2 Watlow heater description

Table 4-16 lists the thermal hydraulic properties used to model the Watlow heater that is used in
the Sandia dynamic model. The wall material of the heater was 316 ss, and the heater elements
were clad with Inconel 600. Chapter 5 provides an in depth description of the heater.
Table 4-16: Watlow heater description.
Heat Transfer to Coolant from Heater Heat Transfer from Coolant Vessel Wall
Elements
Radius of element 4.953 mm Wall inner radius 0.1492 m
L of element 1.727 m Wall Length 2.235 m
Element Heat transfer 6.3988m2 Wall heat transfer 2.0952

Area Area
Flow Area 0.598 m2
Hydraulic Diameter 5.15 mm
Element Inverse 0.0016 K/J Mass of Wall 221 kg

Thermal Capacitance
(κ, kappa)
Number of effective 108

pin or elements
47 6/1/2006
4.3.2.3 Precooler or waste heat gas chiller description
Table 4-17 describes the thermal hydraulic properties used to model the precooler or the gas
chiller heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is a tube and shell heat exchanger with gas flowing in
the tubes and water flowing in the surrounding space. Chapter 5 provides a more in depth
description of the gas chiller.
Table 4-17: Basco/Whitlock gas chiller hydraulic and heat transfer properties used in the
RPCSIM model for the Sandia Brayton Loop
Hydraulic and Heat Transfer Properties of the Gas Cooler Heat Exchanger
Mass of Heat Exchanger 114 kg
Area of Water Flow Leg in Heat Exchanger 10.109 m2
Area of Gas leg in Heat Exchanger 8.0870 m2
Length of Wtr leg in Heat Exchanger 2.896 m
Length of Gas Leg in Heat Exchanger 2.896 m
Effective Wall thickness of Heat Exchanger 1.587 mm
Hydraulic Diameter of Water Leg 21.3 mm
Hydraulic Diameter of Gas Heat Exchanger leg 25.4 cm
Flow area in HP Heat Exchanger Leg .019 m2
Flow area in LP Heat Exchanger Leg .008867 m2
48 6/1/2006
5 Detailed Description of the Sandia Brayton Test Loop
Description
Because of the limited experience in operating reactor driven closed Brayton cycle systems (and
indeed operating just closed Brayton systems) we decided that the best way to validate the
models was to build an electrically heated closed Brayton loop. We would then use a reactor
simulator controller to operate the electrical heater as a reactor using air or nitrogen as the
working fluid. Our goal was to manufacture a closed Brayton loop by modifying available
commercial turbo-machinery. To accomplish this task, Sandia issued a Request for Quote to
evaluate the possibilities of manufacturing an inexpensive closed Brayton loop. Barber-Nichols
Incorporated (Barber-Nichols, 2005,) responded to the request and developed an approach that
could be accomplished within the time constraints and budget available to this project. The
result is the 30 kWe Sandia Brayton Loop (SBL-30) that it described here.
We provide a detailed description of the Sandia Brayton Loop in this section of the report. We
first describe the Capstone C-30 open cycle gas turbine upon which the Sandia closed Brayton
loop is based. The modifications to the Capstone C-30 system are described next, and some time
is spent describing the modifications to the turbo-alternator compressor and the flow path
through it, because it is quite complicated, and it impacted the design modifications that were
required. The flow path is difficult to follow because is consists of flow through a series of
nested annular “cans”. A number of photos of the modifications are provided, along with photos
of the assembled unit at the Barber-Nichols site and now at Sandia. These sections are then
followed by a description of the electrical heater, the gas chiller, and then an overview of the
ducting and instrumentation are described. Within these sections, information regarding size,
mass, flow volume, heat transfer areas, and hydraulic diameters of the various components is
provided to support other modeling efforts. In addition, a brief description of the pressure safety
issues is summarized.
5.1 Closed Brayton Cycle Test-Loop Description

Sandia contracted Barber-Nichols Inc. to design, fabricate, and assemble an electrically heated
CBC system. The system design is based on modifying a commercially available micro-turbine
power plant. This approach was taken because it was the most cost effective among a number of
approaches considered because all the rotating components, the recuperator, the gas bearings,
and the control components could be reused. Other methods of designing and fabrication a
closed loop Brayton cycle that were examined included modifying an automobile turbo-charger
and possibly using an auxiliary power unit (APU). The modification of the Capstone open cycle
gas turbine system was selected largely because it only required modifying the housing to permit
the attachment of an electric heater and a water cooled gas chiller. This approach therefore
allowed the reuse of all the other components including the alternator and associated rectification
electronics and control hardware. The Sandia Brayton test loop uses a 30 kWe Capstone C-30
gas-micro-turbine generator that normally operates at 1144 K turbine inlet temperature (TIT)
with a shaft speed of 96,000 rpm (Capstone, 2005).
The CBC test-loop hardware is currently configured with a heater that is designed to ~80 kWt
with an outlet temperature of 1000 K. Other heater systems that better simulate the thermal
hydraulics of nuclear reactors and that are capable of providing higher temperatures and more
power can be attached in the future. At the present time the heater is limited to 63 kW and 900 K
49 6/1/2006
outlet temperatures. The chiller is capable of rejecting up to 90 kWt and has a water flow rate of
68 liters/min of chilled water at 285 K=56 F. The Sandia house water supply is at 56 F. The
heater power is controlled by a 4-20 mA current source by a Sandia provided National
Instruments controller. The water flow rate is not directly controlled at this time. Some minor
modifications to the Sandia facilities were required to provide 122 kW of electrical power at 480
V 3 phase, and the chilled water.
5.2 Capstone Turbo-Alternator-Compressor Modifications

A schematic drawing of the unmodified C-30 micro-turbine unit as an open air gas turbine is
shown in Figure 5.1. In this configuration the C-30 micro-turbine uses natural gas fuel to heat
the ?. The original path of the gases and temperatures is indicated by the arrows and colors.
The flow path is quite convoluted and flows through several annular regions. The blue lines
show that the gas inlet passes along the alternator housing to directly cool it. This gas then flows
through the compressor and passes into the recuperator (the gas is colored yellow at this point).
After exiting the recuperator (orange) it flows axially and radial around an internal annulus and
then flows into the combustor region from both sides of a baffle. The combusted gases (red)
then flow (to the left in the drawing) into the radial turbine and then exit the turbine axially
(orange). The turbine exit gases then reverse direction while flowing around the combustor
region and then flow axially (to the left) back into the recuperator. The gas exiting the
recuperator (yellow) then flows into a plenum and exits to the atmosphere.
To Cooler
To Heater
From Cooler
From
Heater
End Bell
Figure 5.1: Schematic of the unmodified C-30 with arrows illustrating the gas flow path
and proposed housing modifications.
On the hot end of the unit, (illustrated in Figure 5.1) the two long straight arrows indicate the
modified flow paths that are required to connect the gas from the recuperator to the heater
(orange) and from the heater to the turbine (red). The arrow that points to the left shows the flow
path of the gas from the heater to the turbine inlet. . The design modifications used the six
tubes to transport the hot gas from the heater into the “combustor” annulus. Photos of the
interior of the hot head of the unit are shown in Figure 5.2 with the top “End Bell” removed. A
close up view of the recuperator exit and the turbine exit are shown in Figure 5.3. The gas
50 6/1/2006
injector and igniter passages were used to connect to a heater inlet manifold as shown in Figure
5.3 and Figure 5.4.
Figure 5.2: “Hot End” of the Capstone C-30 micro-turbine showing the turbine wheel, the
combustor annulus, and the gas injector passages.
51 6/1/2006
Flow path through injectors to Heater
Turbine Exhaust Turbine Inlet Annulus Recuperator Exit

Figure 5.3: Photo of the 14 turbine exit blades, the turbine inlet annulus, and the high
pressure recuperator exit. An annular shaped “combustor can” is slipped into the turbine
inlet annulus to direct the gas exiting the recuperator through the injector ports to the
heater.
52 6/1/2006
Figure 5.4: “Hot” end of the connection flow paths between the injector ports and the heat
inlet duct manifold for the C-30 Capstone Micro-Turbine assembly.
To connect the heater outlet gas to the turbine inlet passage, six tubes were used to penetrate the
three cover domes or housings as shown in design drawing of Figure 5.5 and in the photo of the
hardware illustrated in Figure 5.6. The tubes first penetrate the turbine exit bell housing, next
they penetrate through the combustor outer housing annulus and also through the turbine exit
inner housing dome shaped annulus. These design modifications use the six tubes to transport
the hot gas from the heater into the “combustor” annulus. Figure 5.7 provides further details
from a cut-away drawing of the turbo-compressor unit illustrating how the injector and igniter
passages are connected to a common manifold that supplies gas to the heater. The flow passages
are also shown as well.
Figure 5.5: Capstone C-30 turbo-alternator-compressor cutaway with high-pressure zone

highlighted.
53 6/1/2006
Figure 5.6: Six tubes penetrating through the turbine exit dome, through the combustor
dome shaped annulus (middle “dome”), and through the turbine inlet dome (smaller
bottom dome shaped annulus).
High Pressure
Low Pressure
Low Pressure
Turbine
Compressor
Generator
Recuperator
Air Filter
Figure 5.7: Capstone C-30 turbo-alternator-compressor engineering drawing cutaway

showing the gas flow path. Orange lines show the flow path through the compressor and
recuperator, red lines show the flow path through the turbine and recuperator.
54 6/1/2006
A photo of the cold end of the turbo-alternator-compressor is shown in Figure 5.8. This photo
clearly shows the inlet flow passage past the alternator, it also shows the low pressure gas exit
leg from the recuperator. The spiral shaped annular flow passages from the recuperator are
clearly visible in this image. We have been able to make estimates of the heat transfer areas, and
hydraulic diameters for the recuperator based on images like this.
Figure 5.8: "Cold End" of the Capstone C-30 micro-turbine illustrating the spiral
recuperator, the alternator, and the inlet cooling passages along the alternator.
The electrical heater and the gas chiller were then connected to the turbo-alternator-compressor
as shown in Figure 5.9 which shows a complete assembly drawing of the entire closed Brayton
cycle. Note that the system design used a “U” shaped configuration so that it would fit into the
laboratory. This configuration easily accommodates thermal expansion by use of the ducting
bellows at the ends of the legs. In addition the heater and chiller are mounted on pedestals, while
the turbo-alternator compressor set stands on wheels to allow for some motion during heating.
The photo in Figure 5.10 shows the fully assembled and operational Brayton loop at Barber
Nichols Inc. These photos show the system without thermal insulation, as permanent insulation
was only installed on the system after shipping the unit to Sandia.
Photos of the un-insulated Sandia Brayton Loop, as installed at Sandia, are shown in Figure 5.11
and in Figure 5.12. Figure 5.13 shows a photo of the Sandia Brayton Loop with insulation and
as installed and operational.
55 6/1/2006
Ducts and Expansion Joints
Gas Chiller
(~77 kW)
E-Heater (~ 80 kW)
Capstone C-30
Modified Housing
Heater Controller
(2x50 kWe)
Capstone Controller
Figure 5.9: Assembly drawing of the Sandia closed-Brayton-cycle test-Loop (SBL-30).
Figure 5.10: Fully modified and assembled Capstone C-30 closed-Brayton loop as
assembled at the manufactures (Barber-Nichols Inc.) is illustrated. The gas chiller is in the
fore ground and the heater is on the left side of the image.
56 6/1/2006
Figure 5.11: Sandia Brayton Loop as installed at Sandia. The loop is un-insulated in this
figure. The heater is on the left, the gas chiller on the right, and the TAC in the middle.
Figure 5.12 Overview of the Sandia Brayton loop as viewed from the compressor inlet.
57 6/1/2006
Figure 5.13: Fully installed and insulated Sandia Brayton Loop.
58 6/1/2006
5.3 Gas Heater Description
The Brayton loop gas heater was designed to add about 80 kW of thermal power to the gas which
would heat the flowing nitrogen or air to about 1000 K for a flow rate of about 0.25 kg/s. The
heater and controller were designed and fabricated by Watlow Inc., Wright City, Mo. A photo of
the heater and controller is shown in Figure 5.14 and in many of the other photos already shown.
In general the heater consists of a horizontal 12” diameter schedule 300 304 stainless steel vessel
through which 54 “U” shaped heater elements are placed. The heater elements are 0.430” inches
in diameter and have a leg length of 71” (see Figure 5.15)The gas flows in an “L” shaped fashion
through the heater, but 7 baffles force the gas flow into a serpentine path the crosses the heater
elements. The inlet flow is downward, and the exit flow is horizontal. The heater element power
density is about 5 Watt/in2 and requires a supply voltage of 480 V 3 phase. The heaters are wired
into two banks of three phase resistance bridges with each leg of the resistance bridge having a
resistance that varies from 10.55 – 12.22 ohms. The vessel is designed to ASME specifications
and it was designed for a fill gas pressure of up to 42 psia at a vessel temperature of 1425 K.
The vessel was hydrostatically pressure tested to 474 pisg. Detailed engineering design
specifications and drawings for the vessel and for the heater elements are listed in Table 5-1 and
in Figure 5.16.
Figure 5.14: Watlow 80 kW Brayton loop gas heater and controller.
59 6/1/2006
Figure 5.15: “U” shaped heater elements used in the Watlow heater. The photo shows the
heater elements, the grid spacer wires, the baffle, and the gas exit thermocouple (vertical
rod).
The RPCSIM dynamic model for the Sandia Brayton loop uses the reactor model for the
electrical heater. However new input parameters are used to simulate the heater elements, the
wall, and other design parameters. The RPCSIM core prism model is used for the wall, and the
fuel pin model is used for the heater elements. The data that were used to determine the model
input parameters were obtained from the tables and figures presented here and summarized in
Table 5-3. The heat transfer coefficient uses the Dittus-Boelter model for gas heating. Thirty
axial nodes are used along the length of the heater.
60 6/1/2006
Table 5-1: Watlow 80 kW gas heater vessel product specifications.
61 6/1/2006
Table 5-2: Watlow gas heat product specifications for the immersion heaters and their
material specifications.
Table 5-3: Fluid hydraulic and heat transfer properties used in the RPCSIM for the
Sandia Brayton Loop SBL-30.
Heat Transfer to Coolant from Heater Elements Heat Transfer from Coolant Vessel Wall
Radius of element 4.953 mm Wall inner radius 0.1492 m
L of element 1.727 m Wall Length 2.235 m
Element Heat transfer Area 6.3988m2 Wall heat transfer 2.0952

Area
Flow Area 0.598 m2
Hydraulic Diameter 5.15 mm
Element Inverse Thermal 0.0016 K/J Mass of Wall 221 kg

Capacitance (κ, kappa)
Number of effective pin or 108

elements
62 6/1/2006
Table 5-4 Watlow gas heater vessel design drawings and specifications.
63 6/1/2006
Figure 5.16 Watlow 80 kW gas heater element design drawings and specifications.
64 6/1/2006
5.3.1 Electrical Power Description
Electrical power is required to run both the Watlow heater and the Capstone Power Management
Controller. Both circuits require 480 V 3 phase power. The Capstone Power Management
Controller is a grid connected controller and is designed to power the electronics in the
controller, the inverter circuitry and the motor/alternator. As such, it can draw power from the
grid to “motor” the permanent magnet alternator, or it can put power back on the grid which in
the Sandia Brayton test loop goes to powering the heater. The Capstone Model 330 electrical
output can accommodate 3 phase, 400-480 VAC, and 45-65 Hz. Both voltage and frequency are
determined by the grid.
Table 5-5 shows the maximum and typical power draw conditions expected from the Capstone
Power Management Controller during various phases of operation. The facility power in the
laboratory was increased to 100 amperes from 60 amperes ( 480 Volt) to accommodate the
power draw and the supply to the grid and heater. Figure 5.18 shows the approximate layout of
the hardware as located in Sandia building 6585 room 2504. The laboratory was designed to
supply these levels power and cooling water, but minor modifications were required to connect
the water to fill and drainage system, and to increase the amperage. These modifications were
made by Sandia facilities.
Table 5-5: Maximum and Typical Power Draws/ Supply form Capstone Power
Management Circuitry
Max Typical Duration
Motor Power 3.5 kWe 2 kWe Minutes
Electrical Pwr Management 2-3 kWe 2-3 kWe Continuous
Electrical Pwr to Grid 30 kWe 10.5 kWe Hours to Continuous
Power Draw/Supply 5.5 kWe/30 kWe 5.5kWe/10.5

kWe
Notes Limited to 15 kWe This is the

based on maximum maximum power
design temp of to grid
Heater measured to
date
65 6/1/2006
Water cooling
18 gpm @ 55 F
480 VAC Door Size
3 phase 58.5” x 83”
Gas Bottles
100 A
Hood and
Ventilation
2AWG 105 C Cable (130 Amp)
21’
Work Bench Watlow 79 kWe

Controller
17’ 40 Amp Fused Switch Box
Room Air 6AWG 105 C Cable (75 Amp)

Supply Capstone
Controller
AC Power
SNL LabView RT
Controller
Figure 5.17: Electrical connection and cooling water supply for the SBL-30 as located in
building 6585 room 2504. All power is supplied by the 480 3phase 100 amp service from
the wall. The cooling water is provided by the building facilities manager.
The electrical circuit for the Watlow heater controller was purchased from Watlow, and it is
shown in Figure 5.18. The Watlow heater control box is interlocked through the door to remove
electrical service power to the heater when the service box door is open. It also has a manual
switch that must be turned to off before the door can be opened. The circuitry within the heater
box then splits into two 50 kWe Dynamite DC2T-60F0-0000 SCR controllers. The SCR
controllers switch at the zero crossing intervals and the fractional power is determined by dwell
time when no current is allowed to flow. For 50% power, the SCR switches the current on for 3
cycles of the 60 Hz power supply, and then off for 3 cycles. Similarly 25% power uses a dwell
time of 6 cycles for the off mode and 3 for the on. The amount of power draw is controlled by a
4-20mA current loop that is set by the RT_CBC_Controller. The internals of the box was wired
and provided by Watlow and the electrical circuit for this controller is shown in Figure 5.18.
Two thermocouple high temperature limit circuitry interrupts the current draw if the heater
element temperatures exceed their maximum temperature limits. One thermocouple is connected
to the heater element at the hot outlet side of the heater and is set to a value at or below 1450 F =
(1061K), and the other thermocouple measures the gas exit temperature and is set to a value
below 1350 F = 1005 K. These thermocouples are also monitored by the RT_CBC_Controller.
66 6/1/2006
Figure 5.18: Electrical Power circuit for the heater provided by Watlow.
5.4 Gas Cooler Description

The gas cooler provides waste heat rejection capability for the Sandia Brayton Loop. It uses a
Basco/Whitlock, Buffalo, NY, shell and tube counter flow heat exchanger. Water flows in the
shell portion and the gas/nitrogen flowing in the tubes. It was designed to reject 68.9 kW of heat
for a water flow rate of 18 gallons per minute (1.089 kg/s) with a water temperature difference of
15.1 K. The design can accommodate even higher flow rates, up to 50 gallons per minute, thus
if we upgrade the power capability of the heater, we can still use the same gas chiller as it is
oversized for our nominal operations. Photos of the chiller and the gas inlet passages are shown
in Figure 5.19 and Figure 5.20. The cooling water available within laboratory 6585/2504
provides 18 gallons per minute of cooling water at 55 F.
67 6/1/2006
Table 5-6: Basco/Whitlock gas chiller hydraulic and heat transfer properties used in the
RPCSIM model for the Sandia Brayton Loop
Hydraulic and Heat Transfer Properties of the Gas Cooler Heat Exchanger
Mass of Heat Exchanger 114 kg
Area of Water Flow Leg in Heat Exchanger 10.109 m2
Area of Gas leg in Heat Exchanger 8.0870 m2
Length of Wtr leg in Heat Exchanger 2.896 m
Length of Gas Leg in Heat Exchanger 2.896 m
Effective Wall thickness of Heat Exchanger 1.587 mm
Hydraulic Diameter of Water Leg 21.3 mm
Hydraulic Diameter of Gas Heat Exchanger leg 25.4 cm
Flow area in HP Heat Exchanger Leg .019 m2
Flow area in LP Heat Exchanger Leg .008867 m2
Figure 5.19: Image of the Basco/Whitlock shell and tube gas chiller. Inlet water flows
from the upper right side of the image to the lower left, while gas flows in the opposite
direction.
68 6/1/2006
Figure 5.20: View of the Basco/Whitlock shell and tube heat exchanger gas inlet flange,
showing the stainless steel tubes.
69 6/1/2006
Figure 5.21: Gas cooler specifications (1).
70 6/1/2006
Figure 5.22: Gas cooler design specifications.
71 6/1/2006
5.5 Ducting and Instrumentation Description
A schematic of the Sandia Brayton Loop is shown in Figure 5.23. This figure shows the
location of the pressure and temperature sensors used in the loop. Since the time of
writing of this report a few addition sensors have been added. The major sensors consist
of temperature and pressure measurements at either the entrance or exit of every major
component. The stations are labeled 1-6 by using the same nomenclature as described
earlier. The manufacturer used a different numbering scheme when installing the
instrumentation. This nomenclature starts with 100 (at the turbine inlet) and then
progresses around the loop in increments of 100. The loop also contains a flow orifice at
station 6B. The orifice is has a diameter of ½ the ducting inside diameter and the
pressure taps are at ½ and 1 times the diameter of the ducting. The ½ diameter tap is
located down stream of the orifice. For the gas temperature we use the temperature
sensor located at station 6. The flow is calculated using the methods described in ASME
MFC-3M-1989. In all cases type K thermocouples are used. For the gas temperature
measurements the thermocouples are 1/8” diameter ungrounded sheathed thermocouples.
Other pressure tapes not shown in the diagram are located on the inlet and outlet flange of
the Watlow heater. Similarly a number of thermocouples were added to provide
measurements of hot duct wall temperatures. A detailed list of instrumentation and the
feedthrough type used at each gas state-point measurement location is provided in Table
5-7.
Top view of SBL-30 Hardware and

Instrumentation Locations and Controllers
w1: T&P w6: T&P
1: T&P
6Β: P&∆
&∆P
&∆
2:T 6: T&P
Orifice Flow M eter
5: T&P
3: T&P
Gas
Water
4: T&P
Heater
Heater Controller
Capstone Cntrlr
4B
Labview Real Time
Controller & DACs
Figure 5.23: Top view schematic of Sandia Brayton Loop and location of major
temperature and pressure sensors, and the controllers.
72 6/1/2006
Table 5-7: Description of instrumentation, feedthroughs, and connectors at each
station identified in Figure 5.23.
1. TC, Type K on SS Swagelok, T400
PT on SS Swagelok hardware, Setra Systems, C280E, 1277375, 0-25 psia, P400
2. PT on SS Swagelok hardware, Setra Systems, C280E, 2369046, 0-100 psig, P500

5B ¾” pipe, steel flange, ¾” cast iron nipple, 3/4”-1” elbow, brass adaptor,
rubber vacuum hose with hose clamps, CC Valve (100 psi, electric), ¾” steel
tube, manual valve (Whitey, SS-65TSW16P 2200 psi CF3M), ¾” steel tube; tee
off ¾” pipe to PT 2373889, 0-25 psig, P200

PT on SS Swagelok hardware, Setra Systems, C280E, 2369045, 0-100 psig, P601

PT on SS Swagelok hardware, Setra Systems, C280E, 2373889, 0-25 psig, P200
4B TC, Type K on SS Swagelok, TC, Type K on SS Swagelok
5. TC, Type K on SS Swagelok, T200 on housing dome

PT on SS Swagelok hardware, Setra Systems, C280E, x297734, 0-25 psia,
6B PT on SS Swagelok hardware, Setra Systems, C280E, 1277377, 0-25 psia
∆PT, Setra, 2301001PD2F11B, 0-1 psid

W1 TC, Type K on SS Swagelok, T700
W2 TC, Type K on SS Swagelok, T701; PT 2372251, 0-50 psig, P701
73 6/1/2006
Two photos of the instrumentation and the feed through ports are shown in Figure 5.24
and in Figure 5.25. Figure 5.24 shows the turbine inlet temperature port and the pressure
port. Both measurements are made on one of the six heater outlet tubes. Also, if one
looks closely, the turbine exit temperature and pressure ports can also be seen. They are
mounted directly to the bell housing near the center of the dome. Figure 5.25 shows the
temperature and pressure feed through used for the compressor inlet. Also shown in this
figure is the inlet gas feed through which the system is filled.
Figure 5.24: Turbine inlet temperature and pressure sensors and their feed through
ports. Note that these instruments measure the gas temperature and pressure in
one of the six heater exit tubes.
74 6/1/2006
Figure 5.25: Compressor inlet temperature and pressure feed through port and
sensors.
An important parameter that is used in the dynamic model is the volume and mass of
each duct and component. The volume of the components in the high and low pressure
legs are given in Table 5-8. Stainless steel was used for all hot ducts and carbon steel
was used for the low temperature ducts which consist of the Gas cooler inlet ducting and
the compressor inlet ducting. The summed volumes and the resulting stored energy are
given in Table 5-9. The differential pressure (absolute minus ambient) is used in these
calculations. The total stored energy in the gas loop at the values of the respective
pressure relief valve settings is 0.163 MJ. The total volume of the gas loop is 0.57 m3(20
cf). For comparison, the volume of the room that the unit is in is about 97 m3 (3400 cf).a
75 6/1/2006
Table 5-8: Volumes on the components in the gas loop.
Inner
Component: Pipes & Ducts Inner Diam Diam Length Vol
(in) (m) (m) (m3)
Low-Pressure Leg
Turbine Housing 17.760 0.451 0.480 0.077
Recup-to-Gas-Cooler Small
Pipe 4.760 0.121 0.130 0.001
Gas-Cooler Inlet First Elbow 6.352 0.161 0.380 0.008
Gas-Cooler Inlet Line 6.352 0.161 3.250 0.066
Gas-Cooler Inlet Second
Elbow 6.352 0.161 0.380 0.008
Cooler Inlet Bellows 6.625 0.168 0.410 0.009
Gas-Cooler Inlet Elbow 6.352 0.161 0.740 0.015
Gas Cooler Tubes 0.527 0.013 189.0 0.027
Compressor Inlet Elbow 7.9810 0.203 0.5100 0.016
Compressor Inlet Pipe 7.9810 0.203 0.2000 0.006
Filter Housing 20.000 0.508 0.470 0.095
Generator Housing 13.500 0.343 0.200 0.018
High-Pressure Leg
Recup-to-Heater Small Pipes 2.635 0.067 2.500 0.009
Recup-to-Heater Manifold 5.761 0.146 1.120 0.019
Heater Inlet Large Pipe 6.060 0.154 1.500 0.028
Heater Inlet First Elbow 6.060 0.154 0.380 0.007
Heater Inlet Bellows 6.625 0.168 0.230 0.005
Heater Inlet Second Elbow 6.060 0.154 0.300 0.006
Gas Heater Inlet Pipe 6.352 0.161 0.180 0.004
Gas Heater Shell 11.380 0.289 2.300 0.151
Gas Heater Element Tubes 0.430 0.011 -124.2 -0.012
Turbine Inlet Pipes 1.402 0.036 4.860 0.005
Turbine Inlet Elbows 1.402 0.036 0.120 0.000
Table 5-9: Total volume gas loop.

Low-Pressure Leg Total Vol (m3) 0.348
Low-Pressure Leg Pressure
(MPag) 0.206
Low-Pressure Leg Energy (MJ) 0.036
High-Pressure Leg Total Vol (m3) 0.221
High-Pressure Leg Pressure
(MPag) 0.413
High-Pressure Leg Energy (MJ) 0.046
Total loop volume (m3) 0.569
76 6/1/2006
Table 5-10: Duct and component volumes, mass, length, and hydraulic diameter.
Duct or Component ID Volume Length Hydraulic Mass
(liter) (m) Diameter (kg)
(m)
V11 Compressor Inlet Duct 127 liter 0.662 m ..4048 m 60.748
V22 Compressor Outlet Duct 3 liter 0.10 m 0.4 m 0.252
V23 High Pressure leg of 20 liter 0.25 m rcp 250
Recuperator
V33 Heater Inlet Duct 77 liter 4,239 m 0.307 m 121.78
V34 Reactor Coolant Volume or 139 liter 2.235 m rx ---
Length
V44 Heater Outlet Duct Volume 5 liter 1.067 ..0696 m 9.6769
V55 Turbine Outlet Duct 3 liter 0.1 m .4 m 0.25196
V56 Low Pressure leg of 20 liter 0.25 m rcp 250
Recuperator
V66 Gas Chiller Inlet Duct 108 liter 5.004 m 0.3226 m 70.425
V61 Gas Chiller 27 liter 2.5 m gcx 114
6 Summary and Observations

The data presented in this report provides a more detailed data base for modeling closed
Brayton cycles than has been generally available. Overall a large number of tests have
been performed in FY06 and much of this data is provided in this document and in the
data CD that will be made available with this report.
This data contains steady-state data, transient data, and the results from a range of
working fluids which span a range of thermo-physical gas properties from ideal gases and
gas mixtures to very non-ideal gases such as CO2 (far from the critical point). The
steady state data that is provided contains information that can be used to validate the
characteristic flow curves used in the current steady-state and dynamic models. Other
steady-state data is provided that requires steady-state or dynamic models of the entire
Brayton loop to predict the operating behavior of the closed Brayton loop. The transient
test data is summarized and provided in this report, but still requires comparisons with
models to be complete.
The data provided here a significantly expanded database for model comparisons and
validation, but clearly more data is required to support modeling of control options,
especially techniques that use bypass control methods. It is also desirable to perform
additional inventory and throttle valve control tests. The bypass and throttle valve
control tests were not performed because they require hardware modifications to the
Sandia Brayton loop which were not within the resource scope of the FY06 Tasks. The
data provided will support the development of S-CO2 model development and
verification. This data is intended to provide an initial database for model evaluation, but
77 6/1/2006
it is recognized that higher fidelity experiments with S-CO2 are needed before larger
systems can be designed and constructed.
The follow-on activities that are recommended include bypass flow control testing and
modifications to the heater operating control system to allow simulation of the response
from a nuclear reactor with various types of feedback mechanisms. Although additional
testing with this loop will provide useful data for improved models, eventually testing of
small scale supercritical CO2 loops is also required if one is to actively advance the state-
of-knowledge for these unique Brayton cycles.
A follow-on report (July, 2006) will provide results and summaries of the modeling
efforts for the test results described in this report. The July deliverable report will contain
modeling results from SNL, and results to date from the MIT, ANL, and INL tasks.
These initial comparisons will provide insight on the validity, strengths, and weaknesses
of the current models.
78 6/1/2006
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SANDIA REPORT

Small Scale Closed Brayton Cycle

Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation,

Approved for public release; further dissemination unlimited.

Available to DOE and DOE contractors from

Telephone: (865) 576-8401

Available to the public from

Telephone: (800) 553-6847

1.1 Supercritical CO2 Brayton Cycles

1.2 Closed Brayton Cycle Test matrix

1.3 Report Contents

2 Sandia Brayton Test Loop

2.1 Sandia Brayton Loop Summary Design Description

T=900 K Turbine Compressor

0,21 kg/s P=0.22 MPa Recuperator

Figure 2.2: Assembly drawing of the Sandia closed-Brayton-cycle test-Loop (SBL-30).

Figure 2.4: Fully installed and insulated Sandia Brayton Loop.

2.2 Ducting and Instrumentation Description

Pressure Taps, Temperature Taps, and other Hardware

Top view of SBL-30 Hardware and

3.1 Test Matrix

A brief description of each test type is summarized below.

3.1.1 Characteristic Flow Test

1.5 46,000 C30 Turbine

3.1.2 Static Operating Power Curve Test

3.1.3 Dynamic Tests

3.1.4 Inventory Control Tests

3.2 Test Conduct

3.2.1 Fill and Purge Sequence

3.2.2 Startup Sequence

3.2.3 Inventory Control

3.2.4 Turbine Inlet Temperature Changes, (Transient and Steady

3.2.5 Fill Gas Change

3.2.6 RPM Changes at Constant TIT (Static Power Operating Curve

3.2.7 Transient effects of rpm level changes

3.2.8 System Shutdown

Heater Power (%)

100% N2 10 kPa Bleed

Startup Inventory TIT Increase RPM Increase Shutdown

Heater Power (%)

Startup Inventory TIT Increase RPM Increase Shutdown

3.3 Steady State Flow Curve Validation Test Results

N2-30He, TIT750K, 06-03-23,Turb

N2-30%He (850K) Ar-20%He (870K) CO2 (700K)

Figure 3.6: Operating compressor pressure ratio lines plotted as a function of

Figure 3.7: Operating compressor pressure ratio lines plotted as a function of

3.4 Static Closed Loop Test

2000 N2-30He (750K)

1000 N2, TIT700K,06-01-19

Ar, TIT800K, 06-03-16

3.5 Steady State Inventory Control Test Data

Inventory Gas Type

3.6 Transient Test Data

Heater Power (%)

100% N2 10 kPa Bleed

Startup Inventory TIT Increase RPM Increase Shutdown

Heater Power (%)

Startup Inventory TIT Increase RPM Increase Shutdown

100 % Ar Fill Ar-20He Fill